Did you know that normally, human urine contains red blood cells?!
According to physiology, normally, our body excretes about 1,000,000 red blood cells per day in the urine. When urine is centrifuged in a laboratory and viewed under a microscope at a moderate high power field (HPF), about 1 – 3 cells of red blood cells can be found. Thus, having more than 3 red blood cells is considered abnormal. It’s also important to collect urine correctly for these values to be reliable.
Preparing the Elderly for Annual Health Check-ups
When the elderly come for an annual health check-up, what they should prepare includes
- Bathing and cleaning the genital area before collecting urine, avoiding the application of powder to the genital area, as it may cause inaccurate test results.
- If you are menstruating, bleeding from the vagina for any reason, or have an infection in the genitourinary tract, postpone the examination because blood from the vagina can contaminate the urine collected, making it difficult to interpret results.
- Discard the initial stream of urine, and then collect midstream urine in a container, about 10 – 15 milliliters, discarding the end stream into the toilet.
- Tightly close the urine container lid and submit it for testing within 1 hour. If unable to submit within 1 hour, keep the urine at 2 – 8 degrees Celsius, but it still should be sent to the laboratory within 24 hours.
Hematuria
Hematuria means having a number of red blood cells in the urineequal to or greater than 3 cells. When viewed with a microscope at moderate high power field (HPF). A correct diagnosis requires finding this condition in at least 2 out of 3 urine collections, and the collection process must be done correctly as mentioned above.
It can be seen that if the first test result is abnormal, the patient should not worry immediately. Conditions such as infections, fever, accidents, or intense exercise may cause more red blood cells to appear in the urine than usual. However, once these factors are eliminated, repeating the urine test subsequently will usually return to normal. Therefore, it is recommended to have two more tests as scheduled by the doctor to obtain a clear and accurate diagnosis.
***The amount of red blood cells in the urine, if not substantial, may not turn the urine red. But if the amount is significant, it can make the urine appear red or brown. It’s estimated that just 1 cc of blood can turn urine red.
Urinary Tract Abnormalities
If the test results show an abnormal amount of red blood cells in the urine, the doctor will take a detailed history and perform a thorough physical examination to diagnose the condition. Generally, patients may have symptoms indicating abnormalities at different points in the urinary tract, such as - Fever
- Lower abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Painful or burning urination
- Presence of sediments or foam in urine
- A palpable mass in the abdomen
- Swelling
- High blood pressure
- Etc.
Therefore, it is essential to observe the characteristics of the urine and symptoms related to the urinary system. If any abnormalities are found, consult a doctor urgently. It is best to have annual health checks. If any abnormalities are detected, they can be addressed early.
