Red blood cells in urine sediment in a healthy individual are typically within which range?

• A. 0–3 RBCs per high-power field.
• B. 5–15 RBCs per high-power field
• C. 0–1 RBC per low-power field
• D. 10–20 RBCs per high-power field

Answer: (A)

The main idea is understanding what levels of red blood cells in urine sediment are considered normal in a healthy person. In a healthy individual, only a small number of red blood cells may be seen due to normal shedding or very minor contamination during collection. When you count cells under the microscope, the standard reference range is up to three red blood cells per high-power field. Seeing zero to three RBCs in each high-power field is generally considered normal and does not indicate disease. Counts higher than this suggest microscopic hematuria and warrant further evaluation for potential urinary or renal issues. High-power field counting is used because it provides the magnification needed to reliably detect and quantify small numbers of cells; counting in a low-power field is less precise for this purpose.