{"id":"urine-squamous-epithelial-cells","name":"Urine Squamous Epithelial Cells","shortName":"Squamous Cells","aliases":["Squamous Epithelial Cells","Epithelial Cells, Squamous","SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS (UA)","Squamous Epi","Squam Epi","Squamous Epithelial Cells (Urine)","Squamous Epithelial Cells, Urine","Squamous Epithelial Cells/HPF","Squamous Cells, Urine","Squamous Cells","Squam Epi Cells","Squamous Epi Cells","Squamous Epithelial, Urine"],"abbreviations":["SEC","Squam Epi","Sq Epi"],"loinc":[{"code":"11277-1","primary":true},{"code":"105117-6","primary":false},{"code":"33219-7","primary":false},{"code":"12258-0","primary":false}],"specimen":"urine","units":[{"ucum":"/[HPF]","display":"/HPF"}],"referenceRanges":[{"population":"Adults","low":0,"high":5,"unit":"/[HPF]","unitDisplay":"/HPF","note":"Quest prints 5 or fewer per HPF for squamous epithelial cells, and three hospital lab tables in open-access case reports print 0–5 per HPF. This works more as a sample-quality limit than a health range: AAFP (2022) says more than 5 large squamous cells per HPF suggests contamination, and the 2005 review treats their presence as a sign of contamination. The cut-off is a rule of thumb, since a large study found that squamous counts predict culture contamination poorly (Mohr 2016), and automated per-microliter counts use their own site-specific cut-offs (Walber 2025). Limits differ between labs (some print under 10, 'none to few', or counts per low-power field). Labcorp does not report squamous cells separately: its 'Epithelial Cells (non renal)' line, with a 0–10 per HPF interval, also includes transitional cells. Your report's own range comes first.","sources":[{"title":"Urinalysis, Complete (test code 5463)","url":"https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/5463/urinalysis-complete?cc=MASTER","publisher":"Quest Diagnostics"},{"title":"Office-Based Urinalysis: A Comprehensive Review","url":"https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0700/office-based-urinalysis.html","publisher":"American Family Physician","year":2022},{"title":"Urinalysis: A Comprehensive Review","url":"https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/0315/p1153.html","publisher":"American Family Physician","year":2005},{"title":"Urinary Squamous Epithelial Cells Do Not Accurately Predict Urine Culture Contamination, but May Predict Urinalysis Performance in Predicting Bacteriuria","url":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.12894","publisher":"Academic Emergency Medicine","year":2016},{"title":"Quality indicators for urine sample contamination: can squamous epithelial cells and bacteria count be used to identify properly collected samples?","url":"https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2024-1199","publisher":"Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine","year":2025},{"title":"Urinalysis, Routine With Microscopic Examination on Positives: sample report (test 003038)","url":"https://files.labcorp.com/testmenu-d8/sample_reports/003038.pdf","publisher":"Labcorp","year":2026},{"title":"Unraveling the Complexity of Non-typhoidal Salmonella Genitourinary Infection in HIV: A Case Report and Management Strategy","url":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79739","publisher":"Cureus (urinalysis table with the treating hospital's reference intervals)","year":2025},{"title":"An Emerging Human Pathogen: Raoultella Planticola","url":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92875","publisher":"Cureus (urinalysis table with the treating hospital's reference intervals)","year":2025},{"title":"An uncommon case of Chromobacterium violaceum urinary tract infection in a tertiary hospital in Ghana: a case report","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-026-05855-w","publisher":"Journal of Medical Case Reports (urinalysis table with the treating hospital's reference intervals)","year":2026},{"title":"003038: Urinalysis, Routine With Microscopic Examination on Positives","url":"https://www.labcorp.com/tests/003038/urinalysis-complete","publisher":"Labcorp"}]}],"review":{"status":"ai-verified","label":"AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert review","lastReviewed":"2026-10-03"},"summary":"A count of flat skin-type cells in a urine sample. A few are common. Many usually mean the sample picked up cells from the skin around the urethra.","url":"https://bloodtesttracker.com/markers/urine-squamous-epithelial-cells","notice":"Information, not medical advice. Ranges differ between labs, so the range on your own report is the one your result is judged against."}