What is dark urine?

Also known as: brown urine, red urine, dark yellow urine.

When urine is healthy and a person is properly hydrated, urine is a light yellow, straw-like color. Any deviations from that color may be considered dark or abnormally colored urine. In some cases, abnormally colored urine may be present with other symptoms, such as dehydration or blood in the urine, among others.

How is dark urine diagnosed?

A diagnosis of dark urine may begin with your health care provider asking questions about your lifestyle or medical history to rule out causes such as dehydration or medication use. The primary test for diagnosing dark urine is a urinalysis, which is a lab test of your urine to check for the presence of everything from bacteria to protein to blood. In rare cases, a blood test known as a complete blood count (CBC) may also be needed if your health care provider suspects that your liver or kidney function is compromised.

What causes dark urine?

A variety of health conditions or other causes may lead to abnormal urine color, including the following:

• Foods such as beets, blackberries and items with artificial coloring
• A variety of medications
• Internal or vaginal bleeding
• Dehydration
• Liver or bile duct problems
• Urinary tract infections
• Kidney stones
• Muscle injury from extreme exercise

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Reviewed by: Nicole Christin, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM