Urine Squamous Epithelial Cells

This is the microscopic count of squamous epithelial cells in your urine, reported per high-power field or per microlitre. Squamous epithelial cells are flat, scale-like cells that line the lower urinary tract and the skin around the urethra.

A few of these cells in urine is completely normal. Larger numbers usually mean the sample picked up cells from the skin around the opening rather than signalling a problem inside the urinary tract. In that sense it is mainly a measure of sample quality.

Because a high count often points to contamination, it is read together with the other findings such as bacteria and white blood cells, which say more about a possible infection.

The main value of this count is that it tells your doctor how much to trust the rest of the urine result. A sample with many squamous epithelial cells is likely contaminated, so any bacteria or white cells found in it may come from the skin rather than the urinary tract.

When the count is high and the result matters, a fresh clean-catch sample is often requested. Collected properly, it usually shows far fewer squamous cells and gives a clearer picture.

On its own, a raised number of squamous epithelial cells is not a sign of disease. It is a quality check, not a diagnosis.