Microscopic Examination of Urine

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on Microscopic Examination of Urine.

Routine Urinalysis

Analysis of urine to assess health and diagnose diseases.

Sediment Stains

Staining techniques that enhance visibility of sediment elements in urine.

Sternheimer-Malbin stain

A stain used in urinalysis consisting of crystal violet and safranin that improves the visibility of WBCs, epithelial cells, and casts.

Acetic Acid

A chemical used to enhance nuclear detail of WBCs and epithelial cells, but it lyses RBCs.

Lipid Stains

Stains such as Oil Red O and Sudan III used to identify lipids (triglycerides, neutral fats, and cholesterol) in urine.

Toluidine blue

A metachromatic stain that enhances nuclear detail for differentiating cell types.

Hemolysis

The destruction of red blood cells, which can influence urinalysis results.

Microscopy

The use of microscopes to visually analyze small structures, such as those found in urine sediment.

Leukocytes

White blood cells found in urine, indicating potential infection.

Epithelial cells

Cells lining the urinary tract, which can be found in urine sediment.

Hyaline casts

Cylindrical structures formed in the kidney that may appear in urine sediment.

Gram stain

A staining technique used to differentiate between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Methylene blue

A dye used in urinalysis to stain eosinophilic granules.

Prussian blue stain

A stain used to identify structures containing iron.