Complete Blood Count (CBC): What This Common Blood Test Measures and Why Your Doctor May Order It
A urine test that checks for signs of infection, kidney problems, or other health conditions, with automatic follow-up testing if needed.
["This test analyzes urine for glucose, protein, blood, and other substances A reflex culture is automatically done if signs of infection are found It helps diagnose urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes A clean urine sample is required for accurate results Results are typically available within 1-2 days"]
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 57019-2
- Short code
- UA DIP RFLX
- Synonyms
- UA dipstick W Reflex Culture pnl Ur
- Category
- cardiac
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof urine container (plastic preferred)
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 5
- Ref high
- 8
- Critical range
- — – 10000 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- Dipstick colorimetric analysis with reflex to urine culture when reflex criteria are met (positive nitrites, positive leukocyte esterase, or >10 WBC/hpf)
- CPT
- 81003 (Urinalysis, non-automated, with microscopy); 87070 (Urine culture, bacterial; quantitative or semiquantitative)
- SNOMED
- 271710005 (Urinalysis), 410145006 (Refers to procedure)
- Specimen volume
- 10-20 mL minimum; 20-50 mL preferred for adequate testing
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 24-48 hours; Do not freeze. If culture required, refrigerate within 2 hours of collection or transport in insulated container with ice packs.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 4–72 hours
- Order
- routine
The complete blood count, or CBC, is one of the most frequently ordered blood tests in the United States. It measures the cells circulating in your blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, giving your care team a broad snapshot of your overall health and helping guide decisions about further testing or treatment.
A urinalysis is a test of your urine (not blood or serum). It uses a dipstick—a thin plastic strip with chemical pads—that changes color when it detects certain substances. The 'reflex culture' part means that if the dipstick shows signs of infection (like high white blood cells or nitrites), the lab will automatically run a urine culture to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection.
This test checks for a wide range of conditions, such as anemia, infections, inflammation, and bleeding or clotting problems. It can also help monitor chronic conditions like kidney disease and track how well treatments such as chemotherapy or certain medications are affecting your blood cells over time.
The dipstick tests for: glucose (sugar in urine, may indicate diabetes), protein (kidney function), blood (infection or kidney stones), ketones (fat breakdown), nitrites and leukocyte esterase (bacterial infection), pH level (acid-base balance), and specific gravity (concentration of urine). The culture, if performed, identifies specific bacteria and determines which antibiotics will work best.
A sample is collected by drawing a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm, usually at the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A trained phlebotomist cleans the skin, wraps a band around your upper arm, inserts a thin needle, and fills one or more tubes, a process that typically takes only a few minutes and may cause brief, mild discomfort.
You will be given a clean container to collect a 'midstream' urine sample. This means you start urinating, then collect the urine in the container without catching the first or last part. For women, cleansing the genital area before collection is important. A properly collected sample ensures accurate results.
Reference range
pH: 5.0-8.0; Specific Gravity: 1.005-1.030; Protein: Negative; Glucose: Negative; Ketones: Negative; Blood: Negative; Nitrites: Negative; Leukocyte Esterase: Negative; Bilirubin: Negative; Urobilinogen: Normal; Microscopic: 0-2 RBC/hpf, 0-5 WBC/hpf, Occasional epithelial cells, No bacteriaN/A
Collect midstream clean-catch urine specimen. For female patients, cleanse perineum from front to back before collection. For male patients, cleanse glans penis before collection. First morning specimen preferred but not required. Avoid contamination with toilet paper or feces. Patient should not have recently consumed vitamin C supplements as this may cause false negative results for glucose and blood.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Urinalysis helps detect and monitor conditions including urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney infections, kidney stones, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver problems. The reflex to culture ensures that bacterial infections are properly identified and treated with the right antibiotics. Early detection of protein in urine can indicate kidney damage before symptoms appear.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before this test?
Will the reflex culture be done automatically?
How long does it take to get results?
What do abnormal results mean?
Sources
- 1Urinalysis - Mayo ClinicSource
- 2
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 17, 2026. · Read our editorial policy