Urine Blood (Occult)
Occult blood on a urine dipstick detects hemoglobin, myoglobin, or intact red blood cells that are not visible to the eye. Positive results warrant microscopic examination and may indicate urinary tract infection, kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, trauma, rhabdomyolysis, or urothelial cancer. Persistent hematuria should prompt imaging and sometimes cystoscopy to identify the source.
Optimal range: who says what
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Urine Blood (Occult). How we verify ranges.
- General guidance, no named sourceNegativeExpected in health; persistent positives warrant follow-up. Menstruation and hard exercise cause transient positives
- Lab reference intervalNegativeWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
4 providers include this
Urinalysis
Why Urine Blood (Occult) matters
Detects blood not visible to the naked eye. May indicate UTI, kidney stones, kidney disease, trauma, or bladder/kidney cancer. Important to identify the source through further testing.
Reading a Urine Blood (Occult) result
A positive dipstick is not a diagnosis on its own (StatPearls). Microscopic hematuria means 3 or more red cells per high-power field on microscopy, and a strongly positive strip with no red cells on microscopy points to hemoglobinuria, myoglobinuria or another pseudohematuria.
Common causes of a high result
- A urinary tract, kidney or prostate infection
- Kidney or bladder stones
- Glomerulonephritis and other kidney disease
- Cancer of the bladder or kidney
- Blood thinners, bleeding disorders or a low platelet count
- A recent urinary procedure, or contamination from menstrual or rectal bleeding
Caveat: Beets, berries, rhubarb and some medicines can turn urine red without any blood (MedlinePlus).
What to check next
- Microscopic urinalysis to confirm red cells (StatPearls)
- Urine culture, serum creatinine, and a CBC with platelet count (MedlinePlus)
- Urology referral for confirmed microhematuria without an obvious cause; StatPearls flags missed follow-up as a common gap
Sources: StatPearls: Gross and microscopic hematuria (Leslie et al.); MedlinePlus: Urine, bloody. Checked against these sources 2026-09-23. General information, not medical advice; your lab's reference interval and your clinician's reading take precedence.
Which Providers Test Urine Blood (Occult)?
Empirical Health is both the cheapest ($190/year) and the most comprehensive (100+ biomarkers) panel that includes Urine Blood (Occult).
4 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| $190 | 100+ | $1.90 | |
| $297 | 100+ | $2.97 | |
| $365 | 100+ | $3.65 | |
| $499 | 100+ | $4.99 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
17 itemized panels do not include Urine Blood (Occult)
Superpower · WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · InsideTracker · Function Health · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Marek Health Complete · Marek Health Executive · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Hims Labs · Healthspan · Vitality Blueprint Standard · Vitality Blueprint Elite
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Urine Blood (Occult). Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Urine Blood (Occult)?
No institution or named practitioner we track states an optimal target for Urine Blood (Occult). General guidance without a named source: Negative (Expected in health; persistent positives warrant follow-up). Lab reference interval: Negative. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Urine Blood (Occult)?
4 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Urine Blood (Occult) in their panels. This biomarker has limited availability.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Aug 26, 2026 · First published Nov 30, 2025