Clinical Microscopy

Chemical hazard

Exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, or caustic agents in the laboratory.

Hand sanitizing

The best way to break the chain of infection.

Sodium hypochlorite

An acceptable disinfectant for decontamination of blood and body fluids.

Biohazards

Information not included in the NFPA classification symbol.

1200 mL

Average daily output of urine.

Urine container label

Should be placed on the container body rather than the removable lid.

Random urine specimen

The specimen most frequently collected for general screening.

Bacterial growth

The primary cause of unsatisfactory results in an unpreserved routine urine specimen not tested within 8 hours.

Decreased bilirubin

Effect of prolonged exposure of a preserved urine specimen to light.

Glomerular filtration barrier

Prevents filtration of large proteins in the glomerulus.

Afferent arteriole → Efferent arteriole → Peritubular capillaries → Vasa recta

The sequence of blood flow through the nephron.

Color

Can be used to estimate the concentration of a normal urine specimen.

Urochrome

Pigment responsible for the normal yellow color of urine.

Yellow foam

Produced when a urine specimen containing bilirubin is shaken.

Black

Color of urine containing melanin.

Uroerythrin

Causes a pink precipitate in a refrigerated urine specimen.

Leukocyte esterase

Reagent strip reaction requiring the longest reaction time.

Runover between reagent pads

Occurs when excess urine remains on the reagent strip after removal from the specimen.

Leukocyte reading

Primarily affected when a urine specimen is not mixed before inserting the reagent strip.

Glucose

Reagent strip test significantly associated with a positive ketone result.

Protein

Reagent strip result associated with a positive ketone result according to the provided reviewer.

Squamous epithelial cells

Largest cells normally encountered in urine sediment.

Neutral fats and triglycerides

Lipids stained by Sudan III.

Clue cell

A clinically significant squamous epithelial cell associated with bacterial vaginosis.

Polarized microscopy

Valuable initial aid for identifying crystals in urine.

Polarized light

Used to differentiate casts from fibers.

Immunologic disorders

Most glomerular disorders are caused by these conditions.

WBC casts

Help differentiate cystitis from pyelonephritis.

Calcium oxalate

Most common component of renal calculi.

Inborn errors of metabolism

Main purpose of newborn screening for PKU and related disorders.

Alkaptonuria

Overflow disorder of the phenylalanine-tyrosine pathway listed in the reviewer.

Urine, blood, and feces

Specimens that may be used for porphyrin testing.

Epididymis

Site where maturation of spermatozoa takes place.

Seminal vesicles

Produce enzymes involved in coagulation and liquefaction of semen.

Fructose

Major component of seminal fluid listed in the reviewer.

Decreased sperm count

Expected semen-analysis finding when the first portion of the specimen is not collected.

Secretion of protein

Primary function of synoviocytes according to the reviewer.

Gram stain

Test listed as not frequently performed on synovial fluid.

Arthrocentesis

Procedure used to collect synovial fluid.

Effusion

Increase in the amount of serous fluid.

Thoracentesis

Procedure used to collect pleural fluid.

Fetal urine

Primary cause of the normal increase in amniotic fluid as pregnancy progresses.

37°C incubation

Temperature used to incubate amniotic fluid specimens for cytogenetic cell culture.

Small intestine

Part of the digestive tract where pancreatic enzymes and bile salts contribute to digestion.

Large intestine

Major site of water reabsorption in the digestive process.

Fecal neutrophils

Test not performed to detect osmotic diarrhea.

Blood

Not a normal component of feces.

Quantitative fecal fat testing

Fecal test requiring a 3-day specimen.

Urobilin

Pigment responsible for the normal brown color of feces.

Fat

Excessive component found in stools of patients with steatorrhea.