On a normal urine dipstick, leucocytes, nitrites, protein, blood, glucose, ketones and bilirubin are all negative, pH is usually 5.5–6.5 (range 4.5–8) and specific gravity reflects how concentrated the sample is. A positive line is a prompt for further checks — a urine culture, a repeat sample or blood tests — not a diagnosis on its own.
| Category | Reference range |
|---|---|
| Leucocytes (leucocyte esterase) | negative urine dipstick |
| Nitrites | negative urine dipstick |
| Protein | negative or trace urine dipstick |
| Blood | negative urine dipstick |
| Glucose | negative urine dipstick |
| Ketones | negative urine dipstick |
| Bilirubin | negative urine dipstick |
| Urobilinogen | small amount is normal urine dipstick |
| pH | 4.5–8 (commonly 5.5–6.5) urine dipstick |
| Specific gravity | below 1.008 dilute; above 1.020 concentrated urine dipstick |
Dipsticks are a screening test. Labs and strip brands report results slightly differently (trace, 1+, 2+, 3+). Your clinician interprets them with your symptoms.
A routine urinalysis has a visual check (colour and clarity) and a chemical check with a dipstick, which is often read at the surgery with an immediate result. If something is abnormal, the sample may go to the lab for microscopy or a urine culture, which grows any bacteria and shows which antibiotics work.
No preparation is needed. A first-morning, mid-stream sample is most useful because it is more concentrated: clean the genital area, let the first part of the stream go into the toilet, then collect the rest.
Leucocytes means the strip has detected an enzyme from white blood cells, which suggests pus cells in the urine — commonly from a urinary tract infection. A vaginal discharge in the sample can cause a false positive. Isolated trace results may not matter, but repeated ones should not be ignored.
Nitrites are not found in normal urine. Many bacteria that cause UTIs turn nitrate into nitrite, so a positive result makes infection more likely. A negative nitrite does not rule infection out: some bacteria do not make nitrite, and urine that has been in the bladder for less than about four hours may not show it.
Dipsticks become less reliable over the age of 65: many older people, and most with a catheter, have bacteria in the urine without infection, and treating that with antibiotics does not help.
Protein: healthy adults pass only a small amount of protein, below what a dipstick picks up. The strip mainly detects albumin and can miss protein in very dilute or alkaline urine. A positive result is usually repeated and, if it persists, measured properly in the lab with a urine protein:creatinine ratio alongside kidney blood tests such as creatinine and eGFR. In pregnancy, protein is checked at every antenatal visit because it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Blood on a dipstick can mean red cells (haematuria), or haemoglobin or myoglobin from elsewhere. Periods, recent hard exercise and dehydration can give false positives. The NHS advises getting any blood in your pee checked, even a small amount, because it can occasionally be a sign of cancer — often it turns out to be an infection or stones.
pH shows how acidic the urine is. Values between 4.5 and 8 can be normal and change with diet. Persistently alkaline urine can occur with some infections and certain kidney stones; very acidic urine can be linked to diet or uric acid stones.
Specific gravity shows how concentrated the urine is: low values mean dilute urine (for example after drinking a lot), high values concentrated urine (for example dehydration). Concentrated samples make other lines, such as protein, easier to pick up.
Checked against:
No need to decode the numbers yourself: take a photo of the report and the app explains “Urine test (urinalysis, dipstick)” and the rest in plain words — what is normal and what deserves attention.
App StoreGoogle PlayWeb versionWhite blood cells have been detected, most often from a urinary tract infection. Contamination from vaginal discharge can also cause it; a single trace result may not matter.
Bacteria that turn nitrate into nitrite are probably present, which makes a UTI more likely. A negative nitrite does not rule out infection.
It depends on how much you have drunk. Below 1.008 is dilute and above 1.020 is concentrated; your clinician reads it with the rest of the test.
A single positive is often repeated. Persistent protein can be a sign of a kidney problem and is checked with a lab protein:creatinine ratio and kidney blood tests.
It can come from periods, exercise, infection or stones. The NHS advises getting any blood in your pee checked by a GP.
Usually that your body is burning fat — after fasting, a very low-carbohydrate diet or in pregnancy. Tell your GP if it persists or you feel unwell.
This material is for general information only. It is not a medical opinion and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory and the method — rely on the range printed on your own report. Your doctor makes the final interpretation.
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