4. Microscopic Exam Flashcards
“macroscopic screening”
protocols whereby microscopic examination of the urine sediment is performed only on specimens meeting specified criteria
centrifugation speed (RCF and RPMs)
400-450 RCF
1500-2000 RPMs
calculation for RCF
RCF = (1.118 x 10^-5)(radius of rotor head in cm)(RPM^2)
centrifuge for —- min
5
volume used for microscopic exam
0.5 mL - 1.0 mL
concentration factor =
concentration factor = volume of urine centrifuged/sediment volume
examined on low power
SECs
casts
mucus
how do stains work?
change the refractive index of sediment
most frequently used stain
Sternheimer-Malbin
crystal violet + safranin O
Sternheimer-Malbin
function of Sternheimer-Malbin
IDs WBCs, epithelial cells, casts
0.5% solution metachromatic stain
toluidine blue
function of toluidine blue
enhances nuclear detail
diff. WBC and renal tubular epithelial cells
lyses RBCs; helps differentiate
2% acetic acid
oil red O + sudan III
lipid stain
function of lipid stain
stain fats except cholesterol
methylene blue + eosin Y
hansel stain
function of hansel stain
IDs eosinophils
drug-induced allergic rxn
function of prussian blue stain
ID structures containing iron
IDs hemosiderin
preparation of permanent slides for detecting & monitoring renal disease
cytodiagnostic urine testing
function of Papanicolaou’s stain
cytodiagnostic urine testing
how does phase contrast work?
converting variations in refractive index to variation in contrast
function of polarizing microscopy
ID of cholesterol in oval fat bodies, fatty casts, and crystals
“maltese cross” pattern and crystals
Produces a 3-D microscopy image and layer-by-layer imaging of a specimen
Interference-contrast
hematuria clinical significance
Glomerulonephritis
Acute infections
Toxic and immunologic reactions
Malignancies
Contamination (menstruation)
Strenuous exercise
RBC stacking
rouleaux
messed up RBCs
dysmorphic forms
possible explanation for + blood on dipstick but = RBC on microscopic
myoglobin
clumps of WBCs associated with…
proteinuria
glitter cells are in ——- urine
hypertonic/dilute
appearance of WBCs in elderly patients or those on chemo
“Blebs” (vacuoles) and finger/wormlike projections (myelin forms)
explanation for = LE on dipstick but + WBC on microscopic
lymphocytes
abnormal epithelials clinical significance
Pyelonephritis
Toxic reactions
Viral infections
Transplant rejection
Secondary effects of glomerulonephritis
bladder cells
transitional/urothelial cells
transitional cells origin
lining of the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and upper urethra
syncytia
sheets of transitional epithelials seen after catheterization
renal tubular epithelial cells origin
linings of renal tubules
RTEs can indicate ——-, except in this population
tubular necrosis
newborns (normal)