hematuria

[Fable]

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Hi -

Quick question: About how many RBCs are present in urine for it to cross the threshold from microscopic to macroscopic hematuria?
Thanks!

 

[KAI1927]

The difference between gross hematuria and microscopic hematuria is pretty straightforward: gross hematuria is defined as any blood in the urine observed by the naked eye, while microscopic hematuria is blood found using a microscope. So if a patient says they saw blood in their urine, it is gross hematuria. If no blood is seen by the naked eye in a urine sample and blood cells are found during urine cytology, then it is microscopic.

 

[Fable]

Yes, but how many bloods cells are usually present at the threshold at which urine goes from micro to macroscopic?

 

[felipe5]

There is no magic number at which this occurs---just as the above poster said microscopic hematuria is defined as greater than 3 RBC's per HPF while any visible amount of blood in the urine changes the description to gross (macroscopic) hematuria.

 

[Tori's dad]

There is no magic number at which this occurs---just as the above poster said microscopic hematuria is defined as greater than 3 RBC's per HPF while any visible amount of blood in the urine changes the description to gross (macroscopic) hematuria.

Good to see you're still lurking around out there, Felipe. Looking forward to the 25th...we'll see if I made a good enough impression down there in Kansas!!