Urine Squamous Cell Area Ratio (or Urine Squamous Cell Density/Concentration)
This test measures the presence and relative amount of squamous cells in your urine, which may help assess urinary tract health or detect abnormalities like infections, inflammation, or certain cancers.
["This test can help identify urinary issues or early signs of disease."]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 45390-2
- Short code
- Squamous #/area UrnS LPF
- Synonyms
- Squamous #/area UrnS LPF
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- urine
- Container
- Sterile urine container
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- microscopy-light-lpf
- Specimen volume
- 10 mL
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2h, Refrigerated: 24h, Frozen: 7d
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 4–24 hours
- Order
- routine
Why This Test Might Be Ordered
Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you have symptoms like frequent urination, blood in urine, pain during urination, or if you’re at higher risk for urinary tract conditions. It can also be part of routine screening in certain cases, such as monitoring for bladder or kidney cancer.
What to Expect Before the Test
No special preparation is needed. You’ll provide a urine sample, typically collected in the morning. Avoiding certain medications or foods (like cranberry juice) that might alter urine color for 24 hours before testing may be advised by your provider.
How the Test Works
A trained technician examines your urine sample under a microscope to count or compare the number of squamous cells (a type of skin cell found in urine) relative to other cells or substances. This helps determine if there’s an unusual presence or pattern.
What the Results Mean
Results are qualitative (descriptive) rather than numerical, focusing on whether the squamous cell count or pattern is within expected ranges or if it suggests abnormalities that need further evaluation.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Short name
Urine Squamous Cell Analysis
Frequently asked questions
High or unusual squamous cell counts in urine may indicate urinary tract infections, inflammation, or conditions like bladder cancer. However, squamous cells are normal in urine, so results alone shouldn’t diagnose a condition without additional testing.
What causes squamous cells to appear unusually in urine?
Can diet affect this test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Lab Tests OnlineSource
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy