Master the Stages of Routine Urine Examination

Stages of Routine Examination of Urine and Microscopic Examination

• Routine examination of urine consists of three stages: macroscopic/physical examination, chemical examination, and microscopic examination.
• Microscopic examination is the last stage of routine examination and helps to verify the results of the physical and chemical examinations.
• The three stages of examination should be correlated with each other to diagnose the quality of the urine specimen as pathologic or non-pathologic.
• Microscopic examination involves the identification of insoluble substances in the urine, such as red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), epithelial tissue (squamous, transitional, and renal tubular), cast, and crystals.
• Incorrect reporting and identification can lead to errors in the interpretation of the results.
• The preparation and examination of urine sediment can vary in terms of methods of sediment preparation, volume of sediment examined, materials of equipment used, and manner of reporting.
• Standard sediment preparation is commonly used, but there may be some variation in real practice.
• The volume of sediment examined can affect the accuracy of the examination.
• The materials of equipment utilized for sediment examination can impact the results.
• The manner of reporting, or the way the results are documented, is an important factor to consider.
• All these factors should be taken into account to ensure accurate and reliable results in the examination of urine sediment.
• Microscopic examination plays a crucial role in the overall evaluation of urine specimens and helps in the diagnosis of various urinary system disorders.