Normal:

Pale to dark yellow

Abnormal:

Many foods and medicines can affect the color of the urine. Urine with no color may be caused by long-term kidney disease or uncontrolled Reference diabetes Opens New Window. Dark yellow urine can be caused by Reference dehydration Opens New Window. Red urine can be caused by blood in the urine.

Normal:

Clear

Abnormal:

Cloudy urine can be caused by pus (Reference white blood cells Opens New Window), blood (Reference red blood cells Opens New Window), sperm, bacteria, yeast, crystals, mucus, or a Reference parasite Opens New Window infection, such as Reference trichomoniasis Opens New Window.

Normal:

Slightly "nutty" odor

Abnormal:

Some foods (such as asparagus), vitamins, and antibiotics (such as penicillin) can cause urine to have a different odor. A sweet, fruity odor may be caused by uncontrolled diabetes. A Reference urinary tract infection (UTI) Opens New Window can cause a bad odor. Urine that smells like maple syrup can mean maple syrup urine disease, when the body can't break down certain Reference amino acids Opens New Window.

Normal:

1.005–1.030^{Reference 1}

Abnormal:

A very high specific gravity means very concentrated urine, which may be caused by not drinking enough fluid, loss of too much fluid (excessive vomiting, sweating, or diarrhea), or substances (such as sugar or protein) in the urine. Very low specific gravity means dilute urine, which may be caused by drinking too much fluid, severe kidney disease, or the use of Reference diuretics Opens New Window.

Normal:

4.6–8.0^{Reference 1}

Abnormal:

Some foods (such as citrus fruit and dairy products) and medicines (such as antacids) can affect urine Reference pH Opens New Window. A high (alkaline) pH can be caused by severe vomiting, a kidney disease, some urinary tract infections, and Reference asthma Opens New Window. A low (acidic) pH may be caused by severe lung disease (Reference emphysema Opens New Window), uncontrolled diabetes, aspirin overdose, severe diarrhea, dehydration, starvation, drinking too much alcohol, or drinking antifreeze (ethylene glycol).

Normal:

None

Abnormal:

Protein in the urine may mean that kidney damage, an infection, cancer, Reference high blood pressure Opens New Window, diabetes, Reference systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Opens New Window, or Reference glomerulonephritis Opens New Window is present.

Protein in the urine may also mean that Reference heart failure Opens New Window, Reference leukemia Opens New Window, poison (lead or mercury poisoning), or Reference preeclampsia Opens New Window (if you are pregnant) is present.

Normal:

1–15 Reference milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Opens New Window or 60–830 Reference micromoles per liter (mcmol/L) Opens New Window in a 24-hour sample.^{Reference 1}

A one-time urine collection, if normal, will be negative for glucose.^{Reference 1}

Abnormal:

Reference Intravenous (IV) Opens New Window fluids can cause glucose to be in the urine. Too much glucose in the urine may be caused by uncontrolled diabetes, an Reference adrenal gland Opens New Window problem, liver damage, brain injury, certain types of poisoning, and some types of kidney diseases. Healthy pregnant women can have glucose in their urine, which is normal during pregnancy.

Normal:

None

Abnormal:

Ketones in the urine can mean uncontrolled diabetes, a very low-carbohydrate diet, starvation or eating disorders (such as Reference anorexia nervosa Opens New Window or Reference bulimia Opens New Window), alcoholism, or poisoning from drinking rubbing alcohol (isopropanol). Ketones are often found in the urine when a person does not eat (fasts) for 18 hours or longer. This may occur when a person is sick and cannot eat or vomits for several days. Low levels of ketones are sometimes found in the urine of healthy pregnant women.

Normal:

Very few or no red or white blood cells or casts are seen. No bacteria, yeast cells, parasites, or squamous cells are present. A few crystals are normally seen.

Abnormal:

Red blood cells in the urine may be caused by kidney or bladder injury, Reference kidney stones Opens New Window, a urinary tract infection (UTI), inflammation of the kidneys (Reference glomerulonephritis Opens New Window), a kidney or bladder tumor, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). White blood cells (pus) in the urine may be caused by a urinary tract infection, bladder tumor, inflammation of the kidneys, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or inflammation in the vagina or under the foreskin of the penis.

Depending on the type, casts can mean inflammation or damage to the tiny tubes in the kidneys, poor blood supply to the kidneys, metal poisoning (such as lead or mercury), Reference heart failure Opens New Window, or a Reference bacterial infection Opens New Window.

Large amounts of crystals, or certain types of crystals, can mean kidney stones, damaged kidneys, or problems with Reference metabolism Opens New Window. Some medicines and some types of urinary tract infections can also increase the number of crystals in urine.

Bacteria in the urine mean a urinary tract infection (UTI). Yeast cells or parasites (such as the parasite that causes trichomoniasis) can mean an infection of the urinary tract.

The presence of Reference squamous cells Opens New Window may mean that the sample is not as pure as it needs to be. These cells do not mean there is a medical problem, but your doctor may ask that you give another urine sample.

Normal:

800–2,500 Reference milliliters (mL) Opens New Window per 24 hours.^{Reference 1}