microscopic UA - crystals

Question 1

describe cystine - pH, color, solubility

Answer 1

acid, colorless hexagons, varibale
- no birefringence

Question 2

describe cholesterol - pH, color, solubility

Answer 2

acid, colorless notched tables, chloroform
- birefringent

Question 3

describe leucine - pH, color, solubility

Answer 3

acid, yellow tree trunks, base or alcohol
- bilirubin test positive
- seen w/ tyrosine

Question 4

describe tyrosine - pH, color, solubility

Answer 4

acid, colorless/yellow needles, base/heat
- very rare
- bilirubin test positive

Question 5

describe bilirubin crystals - pH, color, solubility

Answer 5

acid, yellow needles/granules, varies
- bilirubin positive
- forms upon refrigeration
- severe liver disorders

Question 6

describe sulfonamides - pH, color, solubility

Answer 6

acid, varies, acetone

Question 7

describe radiographic dye - pH, color, solubility

Answer 7

acid, colorless needles/sheeves, n/a
- patient history important

Question 8

describe ampicillin - pH, color, solubility

Answer 8

acid, colorless, n/a

Question 9

true or false
cystine crystals do NOT exhibit birefringence

Answer 9

true

Question 10

describe amorphous urates - pH, color, solubility

Answer 10

acid, pink sediment, heat/alkaline
- normal due to refrigeration

Question 11

describe amorphous phosphates - pH, color, solubility

Answer 11

alkaline, white sediment, acetic acid
- phosphates and calcium

Question 12

describe uric acid - pH, color, solubility

Answer 12

acid, yellow lemons, alkali/heat
- seen w/ increased purines
- birefringent

Question 13

how would you describe the ability to polarize light

Answer 13

if polarizing: appears a different color than the background (uric acid)
if non polarizing: shows same color as background (cystine)

Question 14

describe calcium oxalate - pH, color, solubility

Answer 14

acid (neutral or slight alk), colorless envelopes, acetic acid
- monohydrate looks like RBC but can polarize light

Question 15

list pathological conditions associated with calcium oxalate

Answer 15

• major component of kidney stones = renal calculi
• oxalic acid poisoning
• liver disease
• ethylene glycol

Question 16

describe when long monohydrate calcium oxalate may be seen

Answer 16

ethylene glycol poisoning - looks like hippuric acid

Question 17

describe hippuric acid - pH, color, solubility

Answer 17

acid, colorless six sided prisms, alkalli/hot water
- very rare

Question 18

list associations of hippuric acid

Answer 18

• high in fruits/veggies w/ benzoic acid
• liver dysfunction
• toluene exposure

Question 19

describe ammonium biurate - pH, color, solubility

Answer 19

alkaline, yellow/brown thorny apple, acetic acid
- only significant in freshly voided urine
- acetic acid turns them into uric acid lemons

Question 20

describe calcium carbonate

Answer 20

• alkaline urine
• dumbbell, spherical or granules
• bubbles in HCl and acetic acid

Question 21

describe calcium phosphate

Answer 21

• colorless flat plates or Washington monuments
• alkaline urine
• dissolves in acetic acid

Question 22

describe triple phosphate crystals - pH, shape/color and solubility

Answer 22

alkaline, coffin lid clear, acetic acid
- birefringent
- dissolved forms feathery shaped
- seen more due to bacterial splitting of ammonia and co2

Question 23

in what disorder are cystine crystals present

Answer 23

cystinuria
- kidney stones in kids

Question 24

in what conditions are cholesterol crystals seen more frequently

Answer 24

• excessive tissue breakdown
• chyluria due to obstruction of lymph drainage