Do I need a Blood, Urine test?
Do I need a Blood, Urine test? If you've noticed your urine looks pink or red, or you're simply curious about what a routine urinalysis can reveal, understanding blood in urine is a helpful first step.
This test detects the presence of red blood cells in your urine, which may indicate anything from a minor irritation to something that warrants closer attention from your healthcare provider.
Knowing your urine results can help you understand your body better and have more informed conversations with your doctor. Many causes of blood in urine are minor and temporary, but detecting it early means you can explore what's happening and take action if needed. It's a simple test that forms part of Listen Health's comprehensive health panel.
What is it?
Blood in urine (called hematuria) means that red blood cells have been detected in your urine. This is a common finding on a urine test and can happen for many different reasons, some minor and temporary, others that need a closer look.
Blood in urine can be visible, where the urine looks pink, red, or tea-coloured, or microscopic, where the urine looks completely normal and blood is only picked up on testing. Most people with hematuria have the microscopic type and feel perfectly well.
There are many possible causes. Common and often harmless reasons include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, recent vigorous exercise, or irritation of the urinary tract. Blood can also appear temporarily during or shortly after menstruation or due to sample contamination. In some cases, hematuria may be linked to conditions affecting the kidneys’ filtering units, or—less commonly—conditions involving the bladder or kidneys that require medical follow-up.
Hematuria is detected during a urinalysis, usually starting with a simple dipstick test. If blood is detected, the urine may then be examined under a microscope to confirm whether actual red blood cells are present. This step is important because the dipstick can sometimes be positive due to other substances in urine, such as muscle proteins, rather than true blood.
If microscopic blood is found on more than one test, especially when samples are taken correctly (not during menstruation and not after intense exercise), further assessment may be recommended. This doesn’t mean something serious is wrong—only that your healthcare provider wants to understand the cause and rule out anything important.
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Ingelfinger JR. Hematuria in adults. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021.
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. Haematuria. Clinical Practice Guideline. Updated April 1, 2021.
Ronco P, Rovin B, Schieppati A, et al. The 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Glomerular Diseases. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). 2021.
Nielsen M, Qaseem A. Hematuria as a marker of occult urinary tract cancer: advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2016.
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AHPRA Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and should not replace individual medical advice. Always discuss your test results and health concerns with a registered healthcare practitioner.