Home › Biomarkers › Urine nitrite
Nitrite is a substance that bacteria in your urine can make. If the lab finds nitrite in your urine, this can point to a urinary tract infection.[1]
On this page you can read what urine nitrite 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: nitrites in urine, urine test, urine examination, urinalysis. At the lab: USTX.
Your urine normally contains a substance called nitrate. Many types of bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection turn that nitrate into another substance: nitrite. So nitrite in your urine is a sign of such bacteria.[1]
The test is part of a urine test. That test looks at cells, substances and other particles in a sample of your urine. It is used to check your general health, including the health of your urinary tract and your kidneys.[1]
Urinary tract infections are common, especially in women. They usually affect the bladder and the urethra. Fortunately, most are not serious.[1]
If an infection like this is not treated, it can spread to the kidneys. That can be serious. This is why MedlinePlus says it is important to catch it early.[1]
Symptoms that can come with it include needing to pee often, even with little urine in your bladder, pain or a burning feeling when you pee, dark, cloudy or reddish urine and urine that smells bad. In older people, weakness, tiredness or confusion may stand out. A fever can point to a kidney infection. If you have symptoms like these, see your healthcare provider.[1]
BioProfile's lab, Labplusarts, does not give a numerical limit for nitrite in urine. It is a qualitative test: the lab checks whether nitrite is present or not. The lab calls a value between the limits normal.[2]
| Result | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| No nitrite found[1] | No trace of nitrite. This does not rule out a urinary tract infection, because some bacteria do not make nitrite. | General, the source does not name a separate group |
| Nitrite present[1] | Can point to a urinary tract infection. | General, the source does not name a separate group |
| White blood cells in the urine[1] | Can also point to a urinary tract infection. | General, the source does not name a separate group |
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nitrites in Urine. A qualitative result: nitrite found or not found, with no separate groups.[1]
If there is nitrite in your urine, this may point to an infection of the urinary tract. White blood cells in your urine can also point to this. If you have symptoms, your healthcare provider can request a urine culture to see how many bacteria there are and which type. You discuss what your result means for you with your healthcare provider.[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.
Not every bacterium turns nitrate into nitrite. This means your result can show no nitrite, even though there is a urinary tract infection.[1]
Follow the collection instructions carefully, so that bacteria from your skin do not get into the sample. Wash your hands, clean your genital area with the wipe and catch the midstream urine. If you are on your period or have bleeding haemorrhoids, mention this before the test.[1]
Sometimes you need to stop certain medicines before this test. So tell your healthcare provider about everything you take. Never stop a medicine on your own, only when your healthcare provider tells you to.[1]
Home test strips also check for nitrite and white blood cells. They are quick and easy, but not always accurate. A strip like this can say there is nothing there, even though there is a urinary tract infection.[1]
Nitrite in urine 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.
