What does WBC esterase in urine mean?
What does WBC esterase in urine mean?
Leukocyte esterase is a screening test used to detect a substance that suggests there are white blood cells in the urine. This may mean you have a urinary tract infection. If this test is positive, the urine should be examined under a microscope for white blood cells and other signs that point to an infection.
Which white blood cells produce leukocyte esterase?
Granulocytic white blood cells (ie, neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils) contain esterases. The detection of esterase is the basis of the leukocytes test on the urine reagent strip.
What is abnormal WBC esterase?
Leukocyte Esterase: Leukocyte esterase is an enzyme present in your white blood cells. Therefore, the presence of this substance in the urine indicates the presence of white blood cells (leukocyturia). White blood cells in the urine may indicate inflammation of the kidneys or urinary tract due to bacterial infection.
How is WBC in urine treated?
Treatment for leukocytes in the urine depends on the cause and if there is an infection. For some conditions, such as a bacterial UTI, antibiotic therapy will clear up the infection relatively quickly. For more severe infections or those that will not resolve easily, more in-depth medical treatment may be needed.
Can you have white blood cells in urine without infection?
It is possible to have white blood cells in the urine without a bacterial infection. Sterile pyuria refers to the persistent presence of white blood cells in the urine when no bacteria are found to be present by laboratory examination.
Can UTI cause high WBC in blood?
The WBC count may or may not be elevated in patients with uncomplicated UTI, but it is usually elevated in patients with complicated UTIs.
Can chlamydia cause high WBC?
Multivariate analysis found that urinary chlamydial infection increased the risk of WBC count ≥16 in EPS (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.189; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.021-4.690; P = . 044) and WBC count between 2 and 4 in urine (OR, 5.227; 95% CI, 2.503-10.918; P = . 001).
