nih-gov/medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/index.html
2025-02-26 13:17:41 -05:00

594 lines
34 KiB
HTML
Raw Permalink Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" id="lab_test" class="nojs us" data-root="https://medlineplus.gov/">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" />
<meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/" />
<link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/pruebas-de-laboratorio/pruebas-de-celulas-epiteliales-en-la-orina/" />
<meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary" />
<meta name="description" content="An epithelial cells in urine test measures the amount of these cells in your urine. Too many epithelial cells may be a sign of a medical condition. Learn more." />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png" />
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Epithelial Cells in Urine: MedlinePlus Medical Test" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share.jpg" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTest_Share2.jpg" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share3.jpg" />
<meta property="og:description" content="An epithelial cells in urine test measures the amount of these cells in your urine. Too many epithelial cells may be a sign of a medical condition. Learn more." />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@medlineplus" />
<meta name="twitter:creator" content="@medlineplus" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Epithelial Cells in Urine: MedlinePlus Medical Test" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="An epithelial cells in urine test measures the amount of these cells in your urine. Too many epithelial cells may be a sign of a medical condition. Learn more." />
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/LabTests_Share.jpg" />
<meta name="twitter:image:alt" content=""/>
<meta property="og:image:alt" content="" />
<title>Epithelial Cells in Urine: MedlinePlus Medical Test</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?1738957206872" />
<!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"> <![endif]-->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css" />
<script type="text/javascript">document.getElementsByTagName('html')[0].className = document.getElementsByTagName('html')[0].className.replace( /(?:^|\s)nojs(?!\S)/g , '').trim();</script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':
new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src=
'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);
})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script>
</head>
<body>
<noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77"
height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" title="googletagmanager"></iframe></noscript>
<a name="top" id="top"></a>
<a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a>
<section
class="usa-banner"
aria-label="Official website of the United States government"
>
<div class="usa-accordion">
<header class="usa-banner__header">
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
<div class="grid-col-auto">
<img
aria-hidden="true"
class="usa-banner__header-flag"
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png"
alt=""
/>
</div>
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true">
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">
An official website of the United States government
</p>
<p class="usa-banner__header-action">Heres how you know</p>
</div>
<button
type="button"
class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button"
aria-expanded="false"
aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default"
>
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Heres how you know</span>
</button>
</div>
</header>
<div
class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content"
id="gov-banner-default-default"
>
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img
class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img"
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg"
role="img"
alt=""
aria-hidden="true"
/>
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br />A
<strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
<img
class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img"
src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg"
role="img"
alt=""
aria-hidden="true"
/>
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
<p>
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br />A
<strong>lock</strong> (
<span class="icon-lock"
><svg
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
width="52"
height="64"
viewBox="0 0 52 64"
class="usa-banner__lock-image"
role="img"
aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default"
focusable="false"
>
<title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title>
<desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc>
<path
fill="#000000"
fill-rule="evenodd"
d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"
/>
</svg> </span
>) or <strong>https://</strong> means youve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<div id="mplus-wrap">
<header>
<div id="mplus-header">
<div id="mplus-orgs">
<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" class="nih-org" target="_blank" title="National Institutes of Health">
<img class="nihlogo" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" alt="National Institutes of Health"/>
</a><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/" target="_blank"> National Library of Medicine</a>
</div>
<div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/">
<img alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png"/>
</a>
</div>
<div id="mplus-nav">
<div aria-live="polite" class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen"></div>
<button id="sm-menu-btn" class="navmenu-btn" title="Menu" role="button" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" type="submit">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu"></span></button>
<ul id="mplus-menu-list" class="nav-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
</ul><button id="sm-search-btn" class="navmenu-btn" title="Search" role="button" aria-controls="mplus-search" type="submit"><span class="hide-offscreen"></span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search"></span></button>
<div class="top-1">
<form id="mplus-search" method="get" action="https://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" title="Search MedlinePlus" target="_self">
<input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="medlineplus"/>
<input type="hidden" name="v:sources" value="medlineplus-bundle"/>
<div class="form-box text-combo">
<div class="form-area"><label class="hide-offscreen" for="searchtext_primary">Search MedlinePlus</label>
<input id="searchtext_primary" class="form-text" type="text" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" alt="#Site Search input" title="Site Search input" maxlength="400" size="40" name="query" autocomplete="off" role="textbox" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-haspopup="true"/>
</div>
<div class="button-area">
<button class="form-btn" title="Search MedlinePlus" alt="Search MedlinePlus" type="submit">GO</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>
<div class="secondarynav">
<ul class="nav-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=https%3A//medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/" target="_blank"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div id="mplus-nav-bar">
<ul class="nav-list">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<a id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/pruebas-de-laboratorio/pruebas-de-celulas-epiteliales-en-la-orina/" title="Español">Español</a>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div id="mplus-content">
<div id="breadcrumbs">
<div itemprop="breadcrumb" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">
<span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span>
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a>
&rarr;
<meta itemprop="position" content="1"/>
</div>
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Tests</span></a>
&rarr;
<meta itemprop="position" content="2"/>
</div>
<div>
<span>Epithelial Cells in Urine</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/</span>
<div >
<article>
<div class="page-info">
<div class="page-title">
<a name="start" id="start"></a>
<h1>Epithelial Cells in Urine</h1>
</div>
<div class="page-actions"></div>
<noscript><span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span></noscript>
</div>
<div class="main">
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What is an epithelial cells in urine test?</h2>
<p>Epithelial cells cover the inside and outside of the surfaces of your body. They are found on your skin, blood vessels, and organs, including your urinary tract (which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra).</p>
<p>An epithelial cells in urine test looks at a sample of your urine (pee) under a microscope to count the number of epithelial cells. It's normal to have a small number of certain types of epithelial cells in urine. But a large number may be a sign of a <a data-tid="448" href="https://medlineplus.gov/urinarytractinfections.html">urinary tract infection</a>, <a data-tid="91" href="https://medlineplus.gov/kidneydiseases.html">kidney disease</a>, or other serious medical condition.</p>
<p>Other names: microscopic urine analysis, microscopic examination of urine, urine test, urine analysis, UA</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What is it used for?</h2>
<p>An epithelial cells in urine test is a part of a <a data-tid="6355" href="https://medlineplus.gov/urinalysis.html">urinalysis</a>, a test that measures different substances in your urine. It may be part of a <a data-tid="4751" href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthcheckup.html">routine checkup</a>, or your health care provider may order the test if you have signs of a urinary tract problem.</p>
<p>A urinalysis may include a visual check of your urine sample, tests for certain chemicals, and an examination under a microscope to look for certain types of cells. An epithelial cells in urine test is part of a microscopic exam of your urine.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Why do I need an epithelial cells in urine test?</h2>
<p>Your provider may have ordered an epithelial cells in urine test as part of your routine checkup or if your visual or chemical urine test results weren't normal. You may also need this test if you have symptoms of a urinary or kidney disorder. These symptoms may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Frequent and/or painful urination</li>
<li><a data-tid="3061" href="https://medlineplus.gov/abdominalpain.html">Abdominal (belly) pain</a></li>
<li><a data-tid="157" href="https://medlineplus.gov/backpain.html">Back pain</a></li>
<li><a data-pid="710" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/blood-in-urine/">Blood in your urine</a></li>
</ul></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What happens during an epithelial cells in urine test?</h2>
<p>You will need to give a urine sample for the test. A health care professional may give you a cleansing wipe, a small container, and instructions for how to use the "clean catch" method to collect your urine sample. It's important to follow these instructions so that germs from your skin don't get into the sample:</p>
<ol>
<li>Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them.</li>
<li>Open the container without touching the inside.</li>
<li>Clean your genital area with the cleansing wipe:
<ul>
<li>For a penis, wipe the entire head (end) of the penis. If you have a foreskin, pull it back first.</li>
<li>For a vagina, separate the labia (the folds of skin around the vagina) and wipe the inner sides from front to back.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds and then stop the flow. Start urinating again, this time into the container. Don't let the container touch your body.</li>
<li>Collect at least an ounce or two of urine into the container. The container should have markings to show how much urine is needed.</li>
<li>Finish urinating into the toilet.</li>
<li>Put the cap on the container and return it as instructed.</li>
</ol>
<p>If you have <a data-tid="1226" href="https://medlineplus.gov/hemorrhoids.html">hemorrhoids</a> that bleed or are having your <a data-tid="325" href="https://medlineplus.gov/menstruation.html">menstrual period</a>, tell your provider before your test.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?</h2>
<p>If your provider has ordered other urine or blood tests, you may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test.</p>
<p>You may need to stop taking certain medicines before this test, so tell your provider about everything you take. But don't stop taking any medicines unless your provider tells you to. They will let you know if there are any special instructions to follow.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Are there any risks to the test?</h2>
<p>There is no known risk to having the test.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>What do the results mean?</h2>
<p>Results are often reported as a general amount, such as "few," moderate," or "many" cells. A <strong>normal result</strong> is typically <strong>"few" cells</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>"Moderate" or "many" cells</strong> may be a sign of a medical condition, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Urinary tract infection</li>
<li><a data-tid="1255" href="https://medlineplus.gov/yeastinfections.html">Yeast infection</a></li>
<li>Kidney disease</li>
<li><a data-tid="310" href="https://medlineplus.gov/liverdiseases.html">Liver disease</a></li>
<li>Certain types of <a data-tid="25" href="https://medlineplus.gov/cancer.html">cancer</a></li>
</ul>
<p>If your results are not normal, it doesn't always mean that you have a medical condition that needs treatment. You may need more tests before your provider can make a diagnosis. To learn what your results mean, talk with your provider.</p>
<p>Learn more about <a data-pid="806" href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/how-to-understand-your-lab-results/">laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results</a>.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-content"><h2>Is there anything else I need to know about an epithelial cells in urine test?</h2>
<p>Three types of epithelial cells line the urinary tract. They are called transitional cells, renal (kidney) tubular cells, and squamous cells.</p>
<p>If squamous epithelial cells are in your urine, it may mean your sample was contaminated. This means that the sample contains cells from another part of the body. This can happen if you do not clean your genital area well enough when collecting your urine sample with the clean catch method.</p></div>
</section>
<section><div class="mp-refs mp-content"><h2>References</h2>
<ol>
<li>Bondue T, Arcolino FO, Veys KRP, Adebayo OC, Levtchenko E, van den Heuvel LP, Elmonem MA. Urine-Derived Epithelial Cells as Models for Genetic Kidney Diseases. Cells. [2021 Jun 6; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 20 screens]. 10(6):1413. doi: 10.3390/cells10061413. PMID: 34204173; PMCID: PMC8230018.</li>
<li>Cleveland Clinic: Health Library: Articles [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; c2024. Epithelium; [reviewed 2021 Nov 9; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 13 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22062-epithelium" target="bibliowin">https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22062-epithelium</a></li>
<li>Johns Hopkins Lupus Center [Internet]. Johns Hopkins Medicine; c2024. Urinalysis [cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-tests/screening-laboratory-tests/urinalysis/" target="bibliowin">https://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-tests/screening-laboratory-tests/urinalysis/</a></li>
<li>Kurn H, Daly DT. Histology, Epithelial Cell. [Updated 2023 Feb 17; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 3 screens]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559063/" target="bibliowin">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559063/</a></li>
<li>Labcorp [Internet]. Burlington (NC): Laboratory Corporation of America(r) Holdings; c2024. Patient Test Information: Urinalysis, Complete With Microscopic Examination; [cited 2024 Sep 11]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.labcorp.com/tests/003772/urinalysis-complete-with-microscopic-examination" target="bibliowin">https://www.labcorp.com/tests/003772/urinalysis-complete-with-microscopic-examination</a></li>
<li>Lerma EV. Urinalysis. [updated 2022 June 21; cited 2024 Sep 10]. In Medscape: Drugs &amp; Diseases: Laboratory Medicine [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): WebMD LLC; c1994-2024. Available from: <a href="https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2074001-overview#showall" target="bibliowin">https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2074001-overview#showall</a></li>
<li>Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998-2024. Urinalysis; [cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 7 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/urinalysis/about/pac-20384907" target="bibliowin">https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/urinalysis/about/pac-20384907</a></li>
<li>Merck Manual Consumer Version [Internet]. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck &amp; Co., Inc.; c2024. Urinalysis and Urine Culture [reviewed 2024 Jan; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/diagnosis-of-kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/urinalysis-and-urine-culture" target="bibliowin">https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/diagnosis-of-kidney-and-urinary-tract-disorders/urinalysis-and-urine-culture</a></li>
<li>National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms; epithelial [cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 1 screen]. Available from: <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/epithelial" target="bibliowin">https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/epithelial</a></li>
<li>National Cancer Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms; urinary tract [cited 2024 Sep 18]; [about 1 screen]. Available from: <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/urinary-tract" target="bibliowin">https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/urinary-tract</a></li>
<li>Nemours KidsHealth [Internet]. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995-2024.Urine Test: Microscopic Urinalysis; [reviewed 2023 Mar; cited 2024 Sep 11]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/test-urinalysis.html" target="bibliowin">https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/test-urinalysis.html</a></li>
<li>Queremel Milani DA, Jialal I. Urinalysis. [Updated 2023 May 1; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 13 screens]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557685/" target="bibliowin">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557685/</a></li>
<li>Testing.com [Internet]. OneCare Media. Seattle (WA); c2024. Urinalysis (UA Test) [modified 2022 Sep 28; cited 2024 Sep 10]; [about 12 screens]. Available from: <a href="https://www.testing.com/tests/urinalysis/" target="bibliowin">https://www.testing.com/tests/urinalysis/</a></li>
</ol></div>
</section>
</div>
<div class="side">
<aside>
<section><div class="side-section">
<div class="section-header">
<h2>Related Health Topics</h2>
</div>
<div class="section-body">
<ul class="relatedmp">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/kidneydiseases.html">Kidney Diseases</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/kidneytests.html">Kidney Tests</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/urinalysis.html">Urinalysis</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/urinarytractinfections.html">Urinary Tract Infections</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div></section>
<section><div class="side-section">
<div class="section-header">
<h2>Related Medical Tests</h2>
</div>
<div class="section-body">
<ul class="relatedmp">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/how-to-cope-with-medical-test-anxiety/">How to Cope with Medical Test Anxiety</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/how-to-understand-your-lab-results/">How to Understand Your Lab Results</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div></section>
</aside>
</div>
<div class="bottom">
<section><div class="lt-disclaimer">
<p>The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.</p>
</div>
</section>
</div>
</article>
</div>
<div id="citation-how-to">
<button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button>
</div>
</div>
<footer>
<div id="mplus-footer">
<div class="footer1">
<ul class="secondarynav">
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li>
<li><a href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=https%3A//medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/" target="_blank"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
</ul>
<ul class="follow-footer">
<li>
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a>
</li>
<li>
<span class="follow-label">Follow us</span>
<a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X">
</a>
<a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank">
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram">
</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="footer2">
<ul>
<li><a href=" https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target='_blank'>NLM Web Policies</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers & Players</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="address">
<a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a>
<span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span>
<a href="https://www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>
<a href="https://www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a>
</div>
<div class="date">
<span id="lastupdate">Last updated November 12, 2024</span>
</div>
<div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
</div>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls-new.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!--[if lte IE 9]><script src="//www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script><![endif]-->
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type='application/ld+json'>{
"@context": "http://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalWebPage",
"headline": "Epithelial Cells in Urine",
"description": "Epithelial cells cover the inside and outside of the surfaces of your body. They are found on your skin, blood vessels, and organs, including your urinary tract (which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). An epithelial cells in urine test looks at a sample of your urine (pee) under a microscope to count the number of epithelial cells. It's normal to have a small number of certain types of epithelial cells in urine. But a large number may be a sign of a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or other serious medical condition. Other names: microscopic urine analysis, microscopic examination of urine, urine test, urine analysis, UA",
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/epithelial-cells-in-urine/",
"publisher": {
"@type": "Organization",
"legalName": "National Library of Medicine",
"url": "https://www.nlm.nih.gov",
"brand": {
"@type": "Brand",
"name": "MedlinePlus",
"description": "MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. It is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the world's largest medical library, and a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).",
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"url": "https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_primary.png"
}
},
"parentOrganization": {
"@type": "Organization",
"legalName": "National Institutes of Health",
"url": "https://www.nih.gov"
}
}
}</script>
</body>
</html>