Expected Staining Reactions of Urine Sediment Constituents

Urinalysis: Expected Staining Reactions of Urine Sediment Constituents

Overview

  • This section provides a detailed overview of the expected staining reactions of different elements found in urinary sediment.

Table: Expected Staining Reactions of Urine Sediment Constituents

  • Elements in urinary sediment exhibit specific staining reactions based on their type and the pH of the urine.

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

  • Usual Distinguishing Color:
    • Neutral: pink to purple
    • Acidic (unstained): pink
    • Alkaline: purple

White Blood Cells (WBCs) and Related Cells

  • WBCs (dark-staining cells):

    • Color: Purple

  • Glitter Cells (Sternheimer-Malbin positive cells):

    • Color: Colorless or light blue
    • Comment: Some may exhibit Brownian movement.

Epithelial Cells

  • Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells:

    • Color: Dark shade of blue-purple

  • Bladder Tubular Epithelial Cells:

    • Color: Blue-purple

  • Squamous Epithelial Cells:

    • Color: Dark shade of orange-purple

Casts

  • Hyaline Casts:

    • Color: Pale pink or pale purple

  • Coarse Granular Inclusion Casts:

    • Color: Purple granules

  • Finely Granular Inclusion Casts:

    • Color: Pale blue or gray

  • Waxy Casts:

    • Color: Light shade of blue-purple

  • Fat Inclusion Casts:

    • Color: Light purple

  • Red Cell Inclusion Casts:

    • Color: Light purple or blue

  • Blood (Hemoglobin) Casts:

    • Color: Pink to orange-red

Bacteria

  • Appearance:
    • Dark purple granules in a purple matrix (motile)
    • Fine dark purple granules in pale pink or pale purple matrix (nonmotile)

Trichomonas Vaginalis

  • Appearance:
    • Light blue-green
    • Comment: Distinct broken ends; motile organisms identifiable during fresh specimen examination with proper staining volumes.

Mucus

  • Color:
    • Pale pink or pale blue

Background Staining

  • Color:
    • Pale pink or pale purple

Sources

  • Data obtained from Product Profile: Sedi-Stain. Clay Adams, Division of Becton, Dickinson & Company, Parsippany, NJ, 1974, with permission.