White blood cells (WBCs) in the urine are a marker of inflammation within the urinary tract. Under normal conditions, urine contains few to no WBCs. When levels are elevated, it typically suggests that the immune system is responding to irritation or infection somewhere along the urinary system—most commonly the bladder (a urinary tract infection), but sometimes the kidneys.
Lab metric
Urine WBC
White Blood Cells (Urine) is a laboratory metric that measures the number of white blood cells present in a urine sample, indicating inflammation in the urinary tract. Higher levels typically suggest that the immune system is responding to irritation or infection somewhere along the urinary system, most commonly a bladder infection (UTI) or, less frequently, kidney involvement; lower or absent levels are normal and reflect a healthy urinary tract. Common drivers of elevated results include bacterial infections, inflammatory conditions, or recent catheter use, while dehydration or certain medications can affect the concentration of cells in the sample.


