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What Does "leukocyte Esterase Small 1+ Negative" In Blood Work Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 13 May 2014
Question: I am a 73 yr. old female I had bloodwork and urine test March 21 the bloodwork came back excellent my doctor told me for my age it is excellent, but my urine showed leukocyte esterase small 1+ negative A I had to take another urine test my doctor told me 99% it will be fine. Today is 2 weeks that I took the urine test it still didn't come back. I am so worried now why it is taking so long. I am getting anxiety over it. Please explain. Thankyou, XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: UTI / Pyuria.Correlate clinically Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking XXXX! Urinalysis should not take that long at al. Two weeks is very long time and this time even histopahtology and cultures come back. So call your doctor and ask him why there has been a delay. There might be some error in reporting or some negligence on their side. It comes back with in hours. Now from your previous urine work up as you mentioned everything is clear except Leukocyte esterase.WBCs contain an enzyme known as leukocyte esterase, which is released when WBCs undergo lysis. Normally, too few WBCs are present in the urine for the test to be positive. However, when the number of WBCs in the urine increases, the result becomes positive. A positive leukocyte esterase test result indicates pyuria. Pyuria typically implies a UTI. Sterile pyuria is seen in analgesic nephropathy and UTIs due to organisms that do not grow by standard culture techniques (eg, Chlamydia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Ureaplasma urealyticum). Now what is causing that esterase in your cause needs a little work up and complete clinical correlation. A simple dose of antibiotics for UTi and some toilet habit rehabilitation would suffice to come over that.Nothing to worry and get anxious about. I hope it helps.Just call them and ask them for the reason of this delay. They can repeat the test free of charge in case sample has been compromised. Take care and dont forget to close the discussion please. Regards S Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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What Does "leukocyte Esterase Small 1+ Negative" In Blood Work Indicate?

Brief Answer: UTI / Pyuria.Correlate clinically Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking XXXX! Urinalysis should not take that long at al. Two weeks is very long time and this time even histopahtology and cultures come back. So call your doctor and ask him why there has been a delay. There might be some error in reporting or some negligence on their side. It comes back with in hours. Now from your previous urine work up as you mentioned everything is clear except Leukocyte esterase.WBCs contain an enzyme known as leukocyte esterase, which is released when WBCs undergo lysis. Normally, too few WBCs are present in the urine for the test to be positive. However, when the number of WBCs in the urine increases, the result becomes positive. A positive leukocyte esterase test result indicates pyuria. Pyuria typically implies a UTI. Sterile pyuria is seen in analgesic nephropathy and UTIs due to organisms that do not grow by standard culture techniques (eg, Chlamydia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Ureaplasma urealyticum). Now what is causing that esterase in your cause needs a little work up and complete clinical correlation. A simple dose of antibiotics for UTi and some toilet habit rehabilitation would suffice to come over that.Nothing to worry and get anxious about. I hope it helps.Just call them and ask them for the reason of this delay. They can repeat the test free of charge in case sample has been compromised. Take care and dont forget to close the discussion please. Regards S Khan