Pee a Rainbow: Scientist Snaps Shot of Colorful Urine

From red to blue to violet, all the colors of the rainbow appear regularly in urine tests conducted at hospital labs.

The prismatic pee collection seen in this stunning photo took only a week to assemble for medical laboratory scientists at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, Wash. Heather West, the laboratory scientist who snapped the picture at the hospital, said she and her colleagues collected the urine colors to highlight their fascinating behind-the-scenes work.

"My picture was intended to illustrate both the incredible and unexpected things the human body is capable of, the curiosity in science, and also the beauty that can be found in unexpected places," West said. "A mix between art and science."

Urine is a fantastic indicator of overall health, and the color is an important factor in what the physician looks for.

Here’s a short breakdown of what your colorful pee is telling you:

Red - Typically caused by blood. This could indicate conditions like kidney stones or even bladder cancer. Eating excessive amounts of beets can also create a pinkish tint.

Brown - This indicates excess levels of bilirubin, typically seen in those suffering from liver cancer.

Orange - Different medications can turn urine orange, including antibiotics.

Yellow - Dark yellow urine can be a sign of dehydration, while cloudiness can signal an infection.

Green - This can be caused by infections or if the problem is actually due to blue urine.

Blue - This is exceedingly rare and the only natural source of blue urine is due to certain genetic variations. Blue urine can also come about due to medications like Methylene blue and propofol.

Violet - Dark violet urine indicates kidney failure. The kidneys aren’t able to filter the blood, and a lot of blood ends up getting excreted out.

Credit: IFLS and LiveScience

Pee a Rainbow: Scientist Snaps Shot of Colorful Urine