Far eastern university

Institute of Arts and Sciences

Department of Medical Technology

Activity 4

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF URINE

The last part of routine urinalysis is the microscopic examination. This is the most consuming
and the least standardized among all the parameters in urinalysis. The main reason in
performing this is to detect the insoluble substances in the urine that maybe clinically significant.
Identification and quantitation of insoluble substances is important in detecting renal disorders.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, the student should be able to:

■ Perform sediment preparation properly
■ Identify the different cells, crystals and casts
■ Know the different renal diseases association with abnormal crystal

Procedure:

1. Use fresh well-mixed urine collected by clean-catch method into a sterile

container.
2. Pour approximately 12 ml of urine into a conical tube, and centrifuge at 400 RCF
for 5 minutes.
3. After centrifugation, decant the supernatant. A uniform volume of 0.5 ml should
remain in the tube after decantation.
4. Resuspend the sediment by tapping the bottom of the tube. This is important to
ensure equal distribution of the cells.
5. Mount one drop of the suspension on a slide and cover it with a coverslip.
6. Place the slide under the microscope, and scan with the low-power objective and
subdued lighting.
7. Switch to the high-power objective for detailed examination of a minimum of 10 to
15 fields.
8. Report and quantitate the microscopic structures observed depending on the
laboratory protocols on the manner of reporting.

ILLUSTRATE/ POST PICTURE OF THE FOLLOWING AND STATE THE CLINICAL

SIGNIFICANCE:

A. CELLULAR ELEMENTS

1. RBC 2. WBC

MTY1228 Activity 4
 Far eastern university
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Department of Medical Technology

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

3. SQUAMOUS EC 4. TRANSITIONAL EC

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

5. RENAL TUBULAR EC

Clinical Significance:

B. URINARY CRYSTALS

1. URIC ACID 2. AMORPHOUS URATES

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

3. CALCIUM OXALATES 4. AMORPHOUS PHOSPHATE

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

5. TRIPLE PHOSPHATE 6. AMMONIUM BIURATE

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

MTY1228 Activity 4
 Far eastern university
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Department of Medical Technology

7. CALCIUM PHOSPHATE 8. CYSTINE

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

9. CHOLESTEROL 10. LEUCINE

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

11. TYROSINE 12. BILIRUBIN

Clinical Significance: Clinical Significance:

MTY1228 Activity 4
 Far eastern university
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Department of Medical Technology

COMPLETE THE TABLE BELOW:

Types of cast draw & describe Significance
Broad cast

Granular cast

Waxy cast

Fatty cast

Hyaline cast

RBC cast

WBC cast

Epithelial cast

Bacterial cast

MTY1228 Activity 4