Effective March 27, 2023, Clinical Pathology Laboratories (CPL) will adjust the reference range for urinalysis red blood cell count (RBC) as given in the chart below. This change will align CPL’s reference range with that suggested by American Urological Association (AUA) and Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) guidelines concerning microhematuria. The guidelines state:
“Clinicians should define microhematuria as ≥3 red blood cells per high-power field on microscopic evaluation of a single, properly collected urine specimen.”
Please use the link below to view the AUA/SUFU Guideline:
Microhematuria: AUA/SUFU Guideline (2020) - American Urological Association
Reference Range Change:
| Urine Red Blood Cell Count | 0 - 5 / HPF | 0 - 2 / HPF |
| Assay | Current Reference Range | New Reference Range |
|---|
Microhematuria is defined as red blood cells in a urine sample that are only detected microscopically. Causes of microhematuria include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Urinary tract infection
- Menstruation
- Certain medications
- Vigorous exercise
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Urolithiasis
- Intrinsic renal disease
- Urethral strictures
- Urinary bladder, renal or prostatic neoplasms including malignancy
| Urinalysis w/ Reflex Micro | 1501 |
| Urinalysis with Microscopic | 1505 |
| UA w/ Micro Hold Spec 24 Hr | 1506 |
| RBC Morphology with Urinalysis | 1508 |
| Microscopic Urinalysis | 1510 |
| Urine Microscopic - Hold 24 Hours | 1511 |
| Microscopic Urinalysis, Rflx Culture | 1512 |
| Urinalysis (Pen Allerg Cult if Ind) | 6002 |
| UA, Microscopic, Reflex to Culture | 6041 |
| Urinalysis (Culture if Indicated) | 6051 |
| Post-COVID Basic Panel | 3596 |
| Urine Cytology with Urinalysis and RBC Morphology | 7985 |
| Name | Order Code |
|---|
References
Barocas DA, Boorjian SA, Alvarez RD, Downs TM, Gross CP, Hamilton BD, Kobashi KC, Lipman RR, Lotan Y, Ng CK, Nielsen ME, Peterson AC, Raman JD, Smith-Bindman R, Souter LH. Microhematuria: AUA/SUFU Guideline. J Urol. 2020 Oct;204(4):778-786. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001297. Epub 2020 Jul 23. PMID: 32698