Microscopic Examination of Urine - Urine Sediment Constituents Flashcards
Appear as smooth, non-nucleated, biconcave disk
RBCs
Diameter of RBCs
7 µm
Manner of reporting for RBCs
Average number seen per 10 hpf
Appearance of RBC in Hypersthenuric urine
Crenated cells/ECHINOCYTES/Irregularly shaped
Crenation of RBCs is caused by
Loss of water
Appearance of RBC in Hyposthenuric urine
Swollen RBC/Ghost cells
Swelling of RBCs is caused by
Absorption of water
Most difficult urinary sediment to recognize
RBCs
Other urinary sediments with close resemblance to RBCs
Starch
Air bubbles
Yeast cells
Oil droplets
Calcium oxalate
Shape of RBC that indicates glomerular bleeding
Dysmorphic or Distorted RBC
The presence of RBCs in the urine is associated with
Damage to the glomerular membrane
Vascular injury within the genitourinary tract
The number of RBCs present indicates
Extent of the damage or injury
Appearance of intact RBC in urine
Hematuria
The observation of microscopic hematuria can be critical to the early diagnosis of
Glomerular disorders
Malignancy of the urinary tract
Renal calculi
Appearance of erythrocytes when the specimen is not fresh
Faint, colorless circles or “shadow cells”
Appearance of RBC when viewed from the side
Hourglass shape
Appearance of RBC when viewed from above
Disks with a central pallor
Normal RBC in urine
0-2 cells/hpf
Abnormal value for urine RBC
> 3 cells/hpf
Diameter of WBCs
12 µm
Predominant WBC found in urine
Neutrophil
Manner of reporting for WBCs
Average number seen in 10 hpfs
Neutrophils lyse rapidly in dilute acidic urine. True or False?
False; alkaline
Appearance of WBC in hypotonic urine
Swells and become spherical balls
Rate of WBC lysis in alkaline urine at room temperature
50% in 2-3 hours
WBC with sparkling appearance due to Brownian movement of the granules
Glitter Cells
Glitter Cells are pathologic. True or False?
False; non-pathologic
Color of WBC when stained with Sternheimer-Malbin
Light blue
Appearance of WBC in hypertonic urine
Smaller as water is lost
The presence of urinary eosinophils is primarily associated with:
Drug-induced interstitial nephritis
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Renal transplant rejection
Amount of urine eosinophil that is considered significant
> 1% eosinophils
The preferred eosinophil stain
Hansel
Smallest WBCs
Lymphocytes
WBC that may resemble RBCs
Lymphocytes
Increased numbers of lymphocytes are seen in
Early stages of renal transplant rejection
The primary concern in the identification of WBCs
Differentiation of mononuclear cells and disintegrating neutrophils from round renal tubular epithelial (RTE) cells
It is used to enhance nuclear detail
Supravital staining
Addition of acetic acid
How to differentiate WBCs from RTE cells
RTE cells are usually larger than WBCs with an eccentrically located nucleus
Increase in urinary WBCs
Pyuria or leukocytoruia
Normal WBC in urine
0-5 WBC/hpf for male
0-8 WBC/hpf for female
Origin of squamous epithelial cells
Linings of the vagina and female urethra and the lower portion of the male urethra
Appearance of squamous epithelial cells in urine indicates
Normal cellular sloughing and have no pathologic significance
Largest cells found in the urine sediment
Squamous epithelial cells
Appearance of squamous epithelial cells
Contain abundant, irregular cytoplasm
Prominent nucleus about the size of an RBC
Appear as flagstone-shaped with distinct cell borders
Folded, possibly resembling a cast
Manner of reporting for squamous epithelial cells
Rare, few, moderate, or many
Low-power or high-power magnification
Variation of the squamous epithelial cell
Clue cells