A lab team member at work in a bright lab room
In person

Urinalysis (Microscopic Only)

A microscope look at cells and crystals in one urine sample.

Loading price
  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Urine sample
Collected at your visit. No needle.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

This test looks at a urine sample under a microscope for red and white blood cells, casts, crystals, and organisms such as bacteria or yeast. It does not include the chemical strip of a complete urinalysis or a culture, so it is usually a follow-up to an earlier urine result.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults whose healthcare provider wants a microscope look at urine, often to follow a past urinalysis, blood in the urine, or a kidney stone history.

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your results show which cells, crystals, casts, or organisms were seen in your urine, which can help a healthcare provider follow up on an earlier urine finding.

Microscopic exam: white cells, red cells, epithelial cells
Under the microscope, the lab counts white blood cells, red blood cells, and cells shed from the lining of the urinary tract. Higher counts can relate to infection, inflammation, or other changes. Skin cells in the sample can also show that it picked up contamination.
Why it’s measured: Counts white cells, red cells, and lining cells in your urine under the microscope.
Microscopic exam: casts and crystals
Casts are tiny tube-shaped particles formed in the kidneys, and crystals form from minerals in urine. Some are common and harmless; others can relate to kidney conditions or a tendency to form stones. The lab reports what it sees for a provider to interpret.
Why it’s measured: Looks for particles formed in the kidneys and mineral crystals.
Microscopic exam: bacteria and yeast
The lab reports any bacteria or yeast seen under the microscope. They can point to an infection, but they can also come from skin contamination during collection, which is why a clean-catch, midstream sample matters. A urine culture can identify the organism.
Why it’s measured: Shows whether bacteria or yeast are visible, which a culture can then identify.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Findings are reported as the number or amount of each element seen under the microscope and compared with the lab’s reference range.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

Microscope findings are read with your history and other urine results, so review them with a healthcare provider before any next step.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

It looks for red blood cells, white blood cells, and cells that line the urinary tract, along with casts (tiny tube-⁠shaped clumps formed in the kidneys), crystals, and organisms such as bacteria or yeast. Each can point a healthcare provider toward a different question.

A complete urinalysis includes this microscope exam plus a chemical strip that checks for protein, glucose, blood, signs of infection, and more. This test is the microscope part alone, which is why it is usually requested to follow up on an earlier finding rather than as a first test.

The lab staff will guide you through a clean-⁠catch, midstream collection at your visit, which helps keep the sample from being contaminated. There is nothing to do ahead of time, and water is fine. No needle is involved.

It does not measure protein, glucose, or other urine chemistry, and it does not grow or identify bacteria. A small number of cells or crystals can be seen in healthy urine too. A healthcare provider decides what your findings mean for you.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.