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Urine pH is one of the tests the lab carries out with a test strip during a urinalysis. An abnormal urinalysis result can point to a condition of the kidneys or the urinary tract.[1]
On this page you can read what urine pH is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which values are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: urine pH, pH in urine. At the lab: USTX.
A urinalysis examines your urine in three ways: with the naked eye, under the microscope and with chemical tests. Urine pH is one of those chemical tests.[1]
For the chemical tests, the lab uses a special strip, also called a dipstick. The strip has pads with chemicals on it. These change colour when they come into contact with the substances the test is looking for.[1]
Besides the pH, the strip can also look at things such as protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, red blood cells and the specific gravity of your urine.[1]
A urinalysis can be part of a routine medical check-up. It then looks for early signs of disease.[1]
It can also be done when there are signs of a kidney condition or a problem with blood sugar control. Or to follow how a value changes during care for such a condition.[1]
A urinalysis also helps to detect blood in the urine. And to establish whether your urinary tract is inflamed.[1]
For the test, all you need to do is urinate as normal. It does not hurt and there are no risks involved.[1]
Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with, gives no numerical limit for urine pH. It is a qualitative test. The lab calls a value within the limits normal.[2]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| No numerical limit (qualitative measurement)[2] | The lab calls a value within the limits normal | Not specified by the lab |
Source: Labplusarts, the lab BioProfile works with. Applies to the urine pH test, code USTX.[2]
MedlinePlus does not make a separate distinction between a pH that is too low and one that is too high. According to that source, though, an abnormal urinalysis result can point to a condition of the kidneys, the bladder or the urinary tract. Or to blood sugar that is not well controlled. Your healthcare provider can discuss the result with you.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Some medicines can affect the result of a urinalysis. Your healthcare provider may ask you to stop taking them before the test.[1]
Your healthcare provider will tell you which type of urine sample is needed. Two common methods are collecting urine over 24 hours and a clean-catch midstream urine sample.[1]
Normal values can differ slightly from lab to lab. Some labs measure in a different way or test different samples.[1]
With a home test, you read the result using a colour chart. So whoever reads the result needs to be able to tell the colours apart clearly.[1]
Urine pH is included in BioProfile 77, 87, 121 and 150.[3]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
