What does the presence of 5 WBC in a UA/Culture indicate?

The presence of 5 white blood cells (WBC) in a urinalysis (UA) culture is significant because it suggests the possibility of inflammation in the urinary tract. WBCs in the urine typically indicate that the body is responding to an infection or injury. While 5 WBCs may not be an extremely high count, their presence can still reflect an underlying issue such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or inflammation in the organs associated with the urinary system.

A healthy urinary system typically has very few or no WBCs in the urine, so their presence, even at a low level, can alert healthcare professionals to further investigate the patient’s condition. Monitoring the number of WBCs can help determine the need for additional tests or treatments.

Other choices are less relevant in this context; for instance, normal results would suggest no inflammation or infection, while possible contamination typically involves much higher counts of WBCs and bacteria, and increased hydration is usually associated with dilution of urine rather than the presence of WBCs.