Urine Red Blood Cells (Microscopy)
This part of a urinalysis uses a microscope to count red blood cells in your urine, reported as the number seen per high-power field. It confirms and quantifies findings the dipstick may suggest.
Seeing red blood cells directly helps confirm whether blood is truly present and roughly how much. Because blood in the urine can come from many sources along the urinary tract, this count helps your clinician decide whether and how to investigate further. It turns a screening hint into a more precise observation.
More red blood cells than expected can follow benign causes like exercise or menstruation, or reflect infection, stones, or kidney and bladder conditions that a clinician will want to evaluate, often with additional testing.
Few or no red blood cells per high-power field is the normal, reassuring finding.
Typically only a very small number of red blood cells per high-power field is considered normal, often around a few or fewer. Persistent counts above the expected range are interpreted by a clinician alongside your other results.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.