Microhematuria

Microhematuria, also called microscopic hematuria (both usually abbreviated as MH), is a medical condition in which urine contains small amounts of blood; the blood quantity is too low to change the color of the urine (otherwise, it is known as gross hematuria). While not dangerous in itself, it may be a symptom of kidney disease, such as IgA nephropathy or sickle cell trait,^[1] or bladder pathology which should be monitored by a doctor.

Microscopic hematuria: Red blood cells in a urine sample seen under the microscope.

The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends a definition of microscopic hematuria as three or more red blood cells per high-power microscopic field in urinary sediment from two of three properly collected urinalysis specimens.^[2]

Microhematuria is usually asymptomatic, and as of 2001 there were medical guidelines on how to handle asymptomatic microhematuria (AMH) so as to avoid problems such as overtreatment or misdiagnosis.^[2] In 2025, American Urological Association guidelines for microhematuria were updated.^[3]

See also

• Proteinuria
• Hematuria
• Myoglobinuria
• Hemoglobinuria