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Kidney

Urine pH: urinary tract infection and what the value says

The acidity of urine is how much acid it holds; according to MedlinePlus the kidneys take acids out of the blood, and the pH expresses that acidity. The lower the pH, the more acidic the urine; a high pH points to less acidic, alkaline urine.

According to MedlinePlus, a urinary tract infection is one of the possible causes of a high pH, alongside kidney problems and vomiting, among others, while diarrhoea can lower the pH. How acidic urine is can only be measured with a urine test.

Unilabs uses 5 to 8 for the pH of a portion of urine.

Doctor's Assessment Included

Urine pH shows how acidic the urine is: a low pH goes with acidic urine, a high pH with less acidic, alkaline urine. According to MedlinePlus, an abnormal pH may be due to, among other things, the kidneys, a urinary tract infection, vomiting or diarrhoea.

  • For urine pH, Star-SHL uses 4.5 to 8.0, Unilabs 5 to 8 and Diagnostiek voor U 5.0 to 7.0.
  • According to MedlinePlus, a lot of fruit, vegetables or dairy other than cheese can raise urine pH, a lot of fish, meat or cheese can lower it.
  • According to MedlinePlus, some medicines, such as sodium bicarbonate and acetazolamide, can affect the result of a urine pH test.

Reference Ranges

Female
pH
Low 4.5 Normal 8 High

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Urine pH: what Dutch laboratories use

The upper limit runs from 7 pH at Diagnostiek voor U to 8 pH at Star-shl.

Reference ranges by group, in pH
Star-shl · Everyone 4.5–8.0 pH
4.5 8
Unilabs · Everyone 5–8 pH
5 8
Certe · Everyone · point-of-care test in hospital 4.5–8.0 pH
4.5 8
Diagnostiek voor U · Everyone 5–7 pH
5 7
0 8.8 pH

Source: Star-shl

Source: Unilabs

Source: Certe

Source: Diagnostiek voor U

Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.

Urine pH: what this test measures

A urine pH test measures the acid level of a portion of urine; Unilabs also calls the test pH urine strip and measures it on a Clinitek station.

Urine pH: why this value matters

Urine acidity counts in a urinary tract infection, because according to MedlinePlus some medicines for a urinary tract infection work better in acidic urine and others in non-acidic, alkaline urine.

Urine pH: how the blood test works

Referral
No GP referral needed. After the order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start on the next business day. ZorgDomein emails a barcode, and that barcode is what the draw site needs.
The draw
A blood draw from a vein in the arm, at a partner laboratory's draw site. No home kit, no finger prick.
Where
650+ draw sites run by independent laboratories across the Netherlands. Draw sites

Urine pH: when is testing worthwhile?

According to MedlinePlus, a urine pH test may be done to see whether someone needs certain medicines for a urinary tract infection. For its point-of-care test in hospital, Certe asks preferably for midstream urine, ideally the first or second morning urine.

Urine pH: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

A low urine pH points to acidic urine and may according to MedlinePlus be due to diarrhoea, starvation or too much acid in the body fluids; eating a lot of fish, meat or cheese can also lower the pH.

High Levels

According to both MedlinePlus and the Cleveland Clinic, a urinary tract infection can give a high urine pH; MedlinePlus also names kidney failure, vomiting and renal tubular acidosis as possible causes.

Urine pH: causes of a low or high value

What lowers the value

  • Diarrhoea

    A low urine pH may be due to diarrhoea.

  • Too much acid in the body fluids (metabolic acidosis)

    Too much acid in the body fluids, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, may cause a low urine pH.

  • Starvation

    Starvation is on the list of possible causes of a low urine pH.

What raises the value

  • Kidneys that do not properly remove acids (renal tubular acidosis)

    A high urine pH may be due to kidneys that do not properly remove acids from the bloodstream.

  • Kidney failure

    Kidney failure is on the list of possible causes of a high urine pH.

  • Urinary tract infection

    A urinary tract infection may cause a high urine pH.

  • Vomiting or pumping of the stomach

    Vomiting and gastric suction to remove fluid from the stomach may cause a high urine pH.

Urine pH: lifestyle and this value

Discuss an abnormal urine pH with urinary symptoms with your GP, and do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Urine pH: frequently asked questions

Does a urinary tract infection change urine pH?

According to MedlinePlus, a urinary tract infection can raise urine pH, so that the urine becomes less acidic.

Urine pH: sources

  1. Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
  2. Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
  3. Certe, Bepalingenwijzer (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenwijzer.certe.nl
  4. Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
  5. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Urine pH test, medlineplus.gov, geraadpleegd 2026-10-18 (retrieved 2026) medlineplus.gov

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These panels measure values from the same category as this marker.

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HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin) ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) Calcium ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) Bilirubin (Total) Urea (BUN) Creatinine eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) Glucose (Fasting) Bicarbonate Chloride Sodium Potassium Albumin Total Protein Bilirubin (Direct) Bilirubin (Indirect)
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