UA Lab Competency Review

High levels of ascorbic acid will interfere with all of the following reactions except:

a. Glucose

b. Ketones

c. Nitrite

d. LE

b. Ketones

Based on this microscopic field, what is the most likely explanation for this finding?

Excess squamous epithelial cells caused by improper clean-catch specimen

T/F: Urine chemical reagent strip methods cannot distinguish normal urobilinogen levels from the absence of urobilinogen

True

The microscopic organism below may be mistaken for which microscopic element?

Yeast, may be mistaken for RBCs

Which pathogenic urinary crystals are seen in the shape of a parallelogram with notched corners?

Cholesterol

Increased levels of urine protein may be an early indicator of what condition?

Renal disease

T/F: If casts are observed, protein should be positive on the dipstick

True

What type of cast is this, and what does its presence indicate?

Waxy cast, renal failure

Which statement is true about RBCs observed in urine?

a. Any number is considered pathologic

b. May disintegrate at acidic pH

c. Can appear as “glitter cells” in dilute, alkaline urine

d. May appear crenated in urine with high SG

d. May appear crenated in urine with high SG

Which of these urine constituents are always reported as the number per LPF?

a. Casts

b. RBCs

c. WBCs

d. RTEs

a. Casts

A tech leaves the reagent strip in urine longer than recommended, what error may occur?

Leaching of reagents from the test pads

A high alkaline pH interferes with all of the following reactions except:

a. Urobilinogen

b. Protein

c. SG

d. Urobilinogen and Protein

d. Urobilinogen and Protein

All of the following crystals are seen in alkaline urine except:

a. Triple phosphate

b. Uric acid

c. Calcium carbonate

d. Ammonium biurate

b. Uric acid

A refrigerated urine specimen appearing to have a pink sediment contains

Amorphous urates

Identify the clump of cells that are round to oval in shape with a distinct cell border and a centrally located nucleus.

Transitional epithelial cells

The crystals show are rectangular prisms that resemble coffin lids, what are they called? The pH is 8.5

Triple phosphates

The crystals appear round with spiky projections resembling “thorny apples”. What crystals are present? The pH is 8.0

Ammonium biurate

These crystals appear yellow-brown and may have shapes such as rhomboids or rosettes. What crystal is this? The pH is 6.0

Uric acid

These crystals appear oval or dumbbell shaped and are highly refractile. What type of crystal is this? The pH is 6.5

Calcium oxalate monohydrate

Identify the crystals here. What does this finding commonly indicate? The pH is 6.0

Amorphous urates in urine that has been refrigerated

Are calcium oxalate crystals pathogenic or non-pathogenic?

Non-pathogenic

Are triple phosphate crystals pathogenic or non-pathogenic?

Non-pathogenic

Are cystine crystals pathogenic or non-pathogenic?

Pathogenic

High concentrations of ascorbic acid may interfere with reagent strip reactions that rely on:

Oxidation-reduction reactions

The presence of this urine sediment constituent is most diagnostic of nephrotic syndrome

Oval fat bodies

Needle-shaped crystals associated with liver disease are known as

Tyrosine

RBCs in highly concentrated urine would

Appear crenated

Identify this cast. What combination of urine dipstick results would correlate with this finding?

WBC cast

LE positive, protein positive

Identify this cast. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this finding?

Hyaline cast

Dehydration or strenuous exercise

The origin of transitional epithelial cells can be from all of the following sites except:

a. Bladder

b. Ureters

c. Vagina

d. Renal pelvis

c. Vagina