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Kidney

Urine pH: kidney stones, kidney function and the value

Urine is more or less acidic, and that acidity is expressed as the pH; according to MedlinePlus, acids are removed from the blood by the kidneys. At a low pH the urine is acidic, at a high pH less acidic or alkaline.

According to MedlinePlus, which type of kidney stone can form depends on how acidic the urine is, and a high pH may be due to, among other things, kidneys that do not remove acids properly or kidney failure. Only a urine test shows how acidic the urine is.

Certe gives 4.5 to 8 for urine pH on the point-of-care test it does in hospital.

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

Male
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 acidity of the urine, and Certe names Pekelharing's Handboek medische laboratoriumdiagnostiek (2013) as the source of its limits.

Urine pH: why this value matters

Kidney stones make urine acidity matter: according to MedlinePlus, a urine pH test may be done, among other reasons, to see whether someone is at risk of kidney stones.

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 ordered at a risk of kidney stones or a suspicion of renal tubular acidosis; say beforehand which medicines you take, because some can affect the result.

Urine pH: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

A urine pH below the laboratory's lower limit goes with acidic urine and may according to MedlinePlus result from metabolic acidosis, too much acid in the body fluids as in diabetic ketoacidosis, or from diarrhoea or starvation.

High Levels

According to MedlinePlus, kidneys that do not properly remove acids from the blood, called renal tubular acidosis, and kidney failure can give a high urine pH; a urinary tract infection and vomiting are on that list too.

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 your GP, particularly if you have had kidney stones before, and following MedlinePlus's advice, eat a normal, balanced diet in the days before the test.

Urine pH: frequently asked questions

Does urine pH affect kidney stones?

According to MedlinePlus, urine pH helps decide which type of kidney stone can form, because different types of stones depend on how acidic the urine is.

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

Tests with related values

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

Heart and blood vessels

Complete Metabolic Panel

Comprehensive metabolic panel: electrolytes, kidney, liver, glucose, HbA1c, and protein.

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)
€149,-
Testosterone

Complete Men's Health Panel

A broad men's health panel: hormones, heart, metabolic, and organ function in one blood draw.

HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin) ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Triglycerides Creatinine Glucose (Fasting) Free T4 (Thyroxine) LDL Cholesterol SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) Total Cholesterol Vitamin D (25-OH) Free Testosterone Total Testosterone Ferritin hs-CRP (High Sensitivity CRP) HDL Cholesterol eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) Cholesterol/HDL Ratio Non-HDL Cholesterol LDL/HDL Ratio
€289,-
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Men Over 40 Panel

Age-appropriate screening including testosterone and PSA.

HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin) PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) Triglycerides Creatinine Free T4 (Thyroxine) LDL Cholesterol SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) Total Cholesterol Vitamin D (25-OH) Free Testosterone Total Testosterone hs-CRP (High Sensitivity CRP) HDL Cholesterol eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) Cholesterol/HDL Ratio Non-HDL Cholesterol LDL/HDL Ratio
€279,-

Medical reviewer

Medical standards

Dr. Naimi oversees the medical standards behind our content and assessments.

Medical policy
CIBG Ministerie van Volksgezondheid,
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