Urine Microscopy Flashcards
Preparation for urine sediment
10-15mL to be centrifuged at 400rcf for 5 min
sediment is prepped, 0.5-1.0mL
Sternheimer-malbin stain
Wet prep stain that stains cytoplasm and nuclear contents
toludine blue
Dry prep stain
lipid stain (oil, red0 and sudan III) ie gram stain
Resolution
ability to differentiate small objects close together
Contrast
Differentiating the cell from the background
Brightfield microscopy, advantages and disadvantages
light is transmitted through the sample and absorbed
ADV: good resolution, true color, true dimensions
DisADV: unstained are not high absorbing, wet=artifact, dry=dead cells
Dark Field Illumination, advantages and disadvantages
Light is directed through sample from different directions and reflects off of the objects
ADV: excellent contrast, max detectability
DisADV: not for measurements, lower resolution, dust can interfere
Phase contrast, advantages and disadvantages
first method used to visualize live cells. Light is passing through the sample slower
ADV: improved contrast for live cells, orientation independent, no polarizers, plastic is ok
DisADV: reduced resolution, not good for thick samples
Polarizing advantages and disadvantages
polarized light=illumination, changes when passed through sample
ADV: ID crystals and lipids, biofringent samples
DisADV: need a polarizer, sensitive to orientation, no plastic
Fluorescent advantages and disadvantages
UV light hits object, excites e- to give off colors and patterns
ADV: good resolution and many applications
DisADV: fixed, thin sample and very expensive
Interference Contrast Microscopy
polarization+phase contrast
RBC’s in a microscopy sample
Normal= 5 per high power field (40x)
usually look like standard RBCs
RBC ghost=diluted sample or high pH
Crenated RBCs
Found in samples with high SG
WBCs in microscopy
Lymphocytes, neutrophil, monocyte, esinophils
Enter through urine tract, not kidneys
wright stain differentiates
Glitter cells
WBC in hypotonic solution, granules wiggle
Pyuria
high WBC count due to inflammation
Lymphocyte in urine reason
transplant rejection
Neutrophil in urine reason
bacterial infection
monocyte in urine reason
tissue damage
Eosinophil in urine reason
Allergic reaction
Epithelial cells microscopy
line urinary tract and nephron tubules. Squamous, transitional, and renal tubular
Squamous epithelial cells in Urine
no clinical significance, small central nucleus, largest cell found in urine, will slough off occasionally
Transitional cells in urine
Ureters and portions of bladder. Many in urine means viral infection or bladder cancer
Renal tubular cells (RTE) in urine
lines tubules in kidney, small but larger than any WBC. Should not be found in urine. If there are many, then kidney was exposed to a toxin
Lipids in urine
Should not see normally, present if there is glomerular damage. Looks like small bubbles and is highly refractive.
Diabetes mellitus, tubular necrosis, bone crushing trauma, nephrotic syndrome
Oval Fat Bodies
RTE’s filled with lipid. Not normal. Same causes as lipids. Is mainly cholesterol and triglycerides
Bacteria in urine
should not have. UTI or Kidney infection. Rods or cocci, WBC’s present signifies UTI.
Maltese cross
cholesterol, starch(rare)
Clue cells
contamination from vaginal secretions
yeast in urine
ovoid and budding. Large amount should check glucose. Diabetes mellitus
pseudo hyphae
long yeast, severe infection
Trichomonas vaginalis
most common parasite found in urine, pear shaped and has flagella
Enterobious vermicularis
uncommon parasite, pinworm and egg form
sperm
rarely clinically significant. Only reported in people younger than 13
Mucus
uromodulin (tamm-horsfall) glycoprotien. Low refractive index, no clinical significance. Usually in women or after stress or exercise
Casts
made of uromodulin. occurs in distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct. Cylindrical
Factors in cast formation
increased stasis, decreased flow. Increased acidity, specific gravity and uromodulin
Hyaline cast
cylindrical, clear, colorless. Low refractive index, normal to see 0-2. More after exercise, stress, dehydration.
2+ is heart failure, liver disease
RBC cast
hyaline cast with RBC’s, can have a red tinge, fragile. Normal to see 0-2, could be after a heavy contact sport. Could be kidney filter damage
WBC cast
hyaline cast with WBC’s, more refractive, should not have. any= infection/inflammation, damage to glomerulus or allergic to penicilln
RTE casts
hyaline cast with RTE’s, larger than WBC cast. not normal, damage to renal tubules from toxin or virus
Fatty casts
normally not seen. looks like elongated OFB’s with same significance of OFBs
Granular casts
tube with a lot of spots (coarse or fine) can be colorless or yellow. Can have 0-2 with strenuous exercise. Increased cellular metabolism
Waxy cast
colorless/gray, has blunt corners/cracks. Should not see normally. Extreme renal stasis, tumor, kidney stone, renal failure
Broad cast
renal failure cast. Waxy casts in collecting ducts (broader) should not ever see.
Telescoped urine
all types of casts are found, seen in lupis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus. Result in period of renal shutdown
Crystal formation in urine
can be normal, usually insignificant. Precipitation of soluble substances after refrigeration.
Factors in crystal formation
decreased temperature, increased SG, change in pH
Amorphous urates
brown/red in color, granules, precipitates out in acidic urine and can change to different crystal types
Normal crystals in neutral-acidic urine
Amorphous urates, uric acid, calcium oxalate dihydrate
Uric acid crystals
brown/yellow/colorless. Many shapes. Form when purine is broken down. Gout=clinical significance. pH<5.5. Birefringent
Calcium oxalate dihyrate
colorless diamonds, breakdown of oxalate from food is normal. birefringent, large amounts increases risk of kidney stones
Calcium oxalate monohydrate
abnormal crystal in acidic urine, dumbbell shaped. Clinical significance=etheline-glycol poisoning (antifreeze)
Normal crystals in alkaline urine
amorphous phosphates, triple phosphate, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate
Amorphous phosphates
look like urates, normal
triple phosphate
looks like coffin lids, more elongated. Can be seen in leaf/needles birefringent
Calcium phosphate
colorless needles (star formation possible) less common, no significance
calcium carbonate
spears+dumbbells, birefringent, soluble in acetic acid and will form bubbles.
ammonium bicarbonate
brown sphere with points (thorny apples). old samples
Abnormal crystals
only form in acidic urine. include bilirubin, tyrosine, leucine, cysteine and cholesterol
Crystals associated with liver disease
Bilirubin, tyrosine, leucine
Cystine crystals
amino acid crystal, hexagonal, clear, colorless. non birefringent. Confirmed with sodium nitroprusside (turns purple) more likely for kidney stones
Cholesterol crystals
flat, transparent square like with a notched out corner. Seen after refrigeration. Birefringent. nephrotic syndrome, excessive tissue breakdown
Tyrosine crystals
spikey star like colorless to yellow, needle shaped. Can be inborne error of metabolism
Leucine
Yellow-brown spheres w concentric striations. Never seen without tyrosine
Bilirubin crystals
usually yellow-brown, needles or tube with bubble. Hepatic disorder or liver disease. Older urine
Sulfonamide crystals
formed from medications, needles or rhombus shape. soluble in acetone
radiographic dye crystals
flat plates, dissolves in NaOH
Contaminants in urine
pubic hair, fecal matter, talcum powder, pollen, bubbles, starch