Leukocyturia is too much leukocytes in the urine. The presence of germs with leukocyturia indicates a urinary tract infection during a cytobacteriological examination of the urine (ECBU). 

Leukocyturia is the presence of too many white blood cells (leukocytes) in the urine. Leukocyturia signals inflammation. When the urine test reveals leukocyturia with the presence of germs, this indicates a urinary tract infection (urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis).

When measuring the level of leukocytes with a urine cytobacteriological examination (ECBU), leukocyturia is considered pathological when there are more than 10 leukocytes / ml, with normal urine containing less than 000 leukocytes / ml. 

A urine test strip or a cytological and bacteriological examination of the urine (ECBU) are two tests performed to make the diagnosis of a urinary tract infection. The ECBU is safer for making this diagnosis. 

At ECBU, leukocyturia is the indicator of an inflammatory reaction during a urinary tract infection (urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis).  

However, leukocyturia is not specific to UTI. Indeed, there are other causes that can be at the origin of leukocyturia: there may be sterile leukocyturia (without germs) in a context of tuberculosis, genital infection (gonococcus, Chlamydia), interstitial nephritis, urethral syndrome or antibiotic therapy. 

The diagnosis of urinary tract infection is therefore made in the presence of leukocyturia and germs. 

When the doctor suspects a UTI (in the face of signs such as needing to urinate often, painful urination) or when a person has an isolated fever), he or she may perform a test with a urine dipstick in the office. It is a plastic rod on which reagents are placed that react to the different components present in the urine. The strip is placed in the urine collected at mid-stream in a sterile pot. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection with a urine dipstick has a guiding value. It must be confirmed by a cytobacteriological examination of the urine (ECBU). 

To perform an ECBU you need a urine sample. It can be done in the laboratory or at home. The principle: collect the second urine stream after genital cleansing. If collection takes place at home, the analysis vial should be taken to the medical laboratory within two hours. The ECBU includes a white blood cell count (leukocyturia), red blood cells and the detection of crystals, bacteria or yeast by direct examination under a microscope or on an analyzer. 

The presence in the urine of leukocytes and germs (leukocyturia and bacteriuria) in significant quantities define a urinary tract infection. In normal urine, the white blood cell count should be less than 5000 / ml.

UTI without leukocyturia is very rare. It can be explained by dilute urine (person who drank a lot before a ECBU) or by severe leukopenia (inability to make leukocytes in sufficient quantity).

Isolated leukocyturia (urine that does not show germs) may be a sign of a urinary tract infection when ECBU is performed after the start of antibiotic treatment.