Which condition describes the presence of intact red blood cells in urine?

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Multiple Choice

Which condition describes the presence of intact red blood cells in urine?

Intact red blood cells in urine indicate hematuria. When RBCs are present as whole cells in the urine, you’re seeing bleeding somewhere in the urinary tract or kidneys, which shows up as red or pink urine (gross) or appears on microscopic examination as RBCs (microscopic hematuria). This differs from other terms: hemoglobinuria is free hemoglobin in the urine from RBC destruction rather than intact cells; hemolysis is the overall breakdown of red blood cells in the blood, not a urine finding by itself; jaundice is yellowing from elevated bilirubin and reflects liver or bile-related issues, not the presence of RBCs in urine. So detecting intact RBCs in the urine specifically points to hematuria.

Intact red blood cells in urine indicate hematuria. When RBCs are present as whole cells in the urine, you’re seeing bleeding somewhere in the urinary tract or kidneys, which shows up as red or pink urine (gross) or appears on microscopic examination as RBCs (microscopic hematuria). This differs from other terms: hemoglobinuria is free hemoglobin in the urine from RBC destruction rather than intact cells; hemolysis is the overall breakdown of red blood cells in the blood, not a urine finding by itself; jaundice is yellowing from elevated bilirubin and reflects liver or bile-related issues, not the presence of RBCs in urine. So detecting intact RBCs in the urine specifically points to hematuria.

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