Urinalysis sediment Flashcards
RBC
Morphology depends on urine concentration and exposure time. < 5 RBC/hpf is normal. Consider collection
WBC
Look round and granular 2 times the size of RBC
Usually neutrophils and maybe macrophages
<5/hpf is normal
Increased could be due to inflammation (consider collection methods though)
Epithelial cells
Shape and size depends on origin. Larger, can be single, clusters or sheets
Can be from hyperplasia or neoplasia
Squames
Prepuce or vagina cells that are generally considered contaminants from voided urine
Caudate celss
From the renal pelvis and calyces and ureters.
Have a narrow tail and larger head where the nucleus is. Can be a sign of upper urinary inflammation
Bacteria
Voided and catheterized samples will have some bacteria (cysto should have none) Not concentrated by centrifugation
Bacterial urinary infection
Usually accompanied by pyuria. Can do a dif quick if not sure
Crystalluria
Indicates supernatant is compounded with with materal that contains crystals
Struvite features
Colorless and prism like
See in urine of healthy animals
Prefers alkaline urine
Bacterial cystitis predisposes to struvite crystalluria
Calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals
Colorless squares with corners making a central X
Any pH and see in healthy animals. Can develop in stored urine
With or without calcium oxalate urolithiasis
Bilirubin crystals
Fine needle-like structure
Dogs: common n highly concentrated urine and not clinically significant usually
Other animals: pathologically significant
Calcium carbonate
Large yellow-brown or colorless spheroids with radial striation, may be dumbbell shaped
Common in horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats
Calcium carbonate in dogs and cats
Sign of renal disease need to rule out melamine cyanuric acid crystals (look at the food and treat products)
Urate cyrstals
Uric acid and ammonium urate crystals
Both are seen with portosystemic shunts and other hepatic diseases with hyperammonemia
Ammonium urate
Brownish with spicules on them and can be aggregated
