What is the difference between organized and unorganized sediments in urine

It is assumed that students have a basic knowledge of urinalysis macroscopic and dipstick examination. The course covers specimen collections and processing, casts, cellular elements, normal and abnormal crystals, parasites, artifacts, and basic biochemical tests to help identify certain elements. It describes a method of quantitation of urine specimens, and emphasizes the intelligent correlation of macroscopic and microscopic results, by the reported technologist.

Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote. Users Also Bought. Continuing Education Credits P. Objectives Explain the importance of the microscopic examination. Mucus threads. Normally, urine of equine contains large amount of homogenous mucous threads. In other animals, presence of these threads is an indication of contamination from the genital secretions.

Presence of large number of bacteria, suggest bacterial infection anywhere in the urinary tract especially when associated with abnormal quantities of WBC and RBC. Larger than bacteria, but smaller than leucocytes. Show distinct hyphae. They are common contaminants. Parasite ova that may be seen in urine sediment include.

Stephanurus dentatus - Swine kidney worm. Dioctophyma renale - Giant kidney worm of the dog. Capillaria plica - Bladder worm of the dog. Dirofilaria immitis - Microfilaria may appear rarely in urine.

The presence of crystals in urine depends upon the pH, the solubility and concentration of crystalloid, colloids and seldom has clinical significance. They result from passage of red cells through the damaged glomeruli. Degenerated white cells are distorted, smaller, and have fewer granules. Clumps of numerous white cells are seen in infections.

Presence of many white cells in urine is called as pyuria. In hypotonic urine white cells are swollen and the granules are highly refractile and show Brownian movement; such cells are called as glitter cells; large numbers are indicative of injury to urinary tract.

Normally white cells may be seen per high power field. Increased numbers of white cells occur in fever, pyelonephritis, lower urinary tract infection, tubulointerstitial nephritis, and renal transplant rejection. Simultaneous presence of white cells and white cell casts indicates presence of renal infection pyelonephritis. Presence of renal tubular epithelial cells is a significant finding.

Increased numbers are found in conditions causing tubular damage like acute tubular necrosis, pyelonephritis, viral infection of kidney, allograft rejection, and salicylate or heavy metal poisoning. These cells are small about the same size or slightly larger than white blood cell , polyhedral, columnar, or oval, and have granular cytoplasm. A single, large, refractile, eccentric nucleus is often seen.

Renal tubular epithelial cells are difficult to distinguish from pus cells in unstained preparations. Squamous epithelial cells line the lower urethra and vagina. Presence of large numbers of squamous cells in urine indicates contamination of urine with vaginal fluid. These are large cells, rectangular in shape, flat with abundant cytoplasm and a small, central nucleus. Transitional cells line renal pelvis, ureters, urinary bladder, and upper urethra.

These cells are large, and diamond- or pear-shaped caudate cells. Large numbers or sheets of these cells in urine occur after catheterization and in transitional cell carcinoma. These are degenerated renal tubular epithelial cells filled with highly refractile lipid cholesterol droplets.

They are seen in nephrotic syndrome in which there is lipiduria. Telescoped urinary sediment: This refers to urinary sediment consisting of red blood cells, white blood cells, oval fat bodies, and all types of casts in roughly equal proportion.

It occurs in lupus nephritis, malignant hypertension, rapidly proliferative glomerulonephritis, and diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Bacteria in urine can be detected by microscopic examination, reagent strip tests for significant bacteriuria nitrite test, leucocyte esterase test , and culture. If three or more species of bacteria are identified on culture, it almost always indicates contamination by vaginal flora.

These are round or oval structures of approximately the same size as red blood cells. Presence of Candida in urine may suggest immunocompromised state, vaginal candidiasis, or diabetes mellitus. Usually pyuria is present if there is infection by Candida. Candida may also be a contaminant in the sample and therefore urine sample must be examined in a fresh state. These are motile organisms with pear shape, undulating membrane on one side, and four flagellae.

They cause vaginitis in females and are thus contaminants in urine. They are easily detected in fresh urine due to their motility. Urinary casts are cylindrical, cigar-shaped microscopic structures that form in distal renal tubules and collecting ducts.

They have parallel sides and rounded ends.