Protozoa in urine under a microscope. General urine analysis with sediment microscopy: norms and deviations

is the final product in the work of the kidneys, it is its parameters that reflect the work of the internal organs. The test results help to assess the metabolism and identify pathological processes throughout the body.

What is urine sediment microscopy?

During the analysis, microscopy is subjected to allowing correctly assess its physical and technical characteristics and draw conclusions about the presence of inflammatory processes or disorders in the genitourinary system and other internal organs.

What the study shows

Microscopy reveals third-party elements that the patient should not have in a healthy state. Their presence indicates the development of certain diseases. Timely detection allows you to correctly diagnose and prescribe a course of therapy.

How to properly collect material for analysis

The results of the analysis may be inaccurate if the laboratory receives material that is not suitable for research. Distortions are caused by incorrectly collected and late delivered urine.

It is important! Untimely or improperly provided care can cost the patient his life. And a specialist can make a diagnosis only after studying the analyzes. That is why it is so important to correctly collect urine so that the doctor at the initial stage can assess the patient's health and prescribe adequate treatment.

For research:

During the day before testing it is not recommended to eat food that directly affects the color of urine(for example, beets or foods high in coloring matter). Also not worth consuming alcoholic beverages, coffee and certain medications... If it is impossible to avoid taking pills, be sure to notify the doctor about this;
The last meal should not be later than 6 pm;
Desirable do not have sexual intercourse within 12 hours before collecting the test;
Fit for research only morning fresh urine collected after a thorough morning toilet. To wash the external genital organs, you must use only regular soap;
During collection you need exclude any secretions from entering the analysis vessel;
For the transportation of urine in pharmacies, special sterile containers and jars with tight-fitting lids are sold.

Photo 2. Jars for collecting material can be bought at any pharmacy. Source: Flickr (ashley renee).

Note! It is advisable to be tested for sediment microscopy at least twice a year.

Normal urine sediment readings

Shows the presence or absence of inflammatory processes and dysfunction of organs.

Normal values on microscopic examination of urine sediment:

Urine reaction, pH: - o in adult men and women - from 5.3 to 6.5, in children from 7 to 18 years old - from 4.7 to 7.5; in babies from one to 6 years old - from 5.0 to 7.0; in infants - from 6.9 to 7.8;
Protein... A healthy person should not have protein in urine. Its indicators are so insignificant that protein compounds are not detected by conventional methods;

Precipitation is distinguished by organized and unorganized types.

Organized sludge:

Erythrocytes- men - no more than 2 units in the field of view; in children under 18 years of age - single;
Leukocytes- men - from 0 to 3; boys - from 0 to 5;
Epithelial cells: - flat. - 0-3; transitional - from 0 to 1; renal - normally absent in a healthy person.
Cylinders- hyaline, granular, waxy, epithelial, erythrocytic cells are completely absent;
Bacteria- normally either completely absent, or the quantity is less than 2 thousand per 1 mm.

Unorganized sediment:

In acidic environments can be found uric acid, urates(sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium) or oxalates (calcium carbonate or oxalate).
In an alkaline environment, phosphates, crystals of cystine, tyrosine and lecithin.

Note! In fact, an unorganized sediment indicates the defeat of the body by bacteria, the development of urolithiasis, nephrolithiasis, or the presence of stones.

Decoding the results

As a result of laboratory studies, a specialist receives a decrypted analysis result, in which the following indicators will be indicated:

... Their increased content is typical for kidney diseases (cystitis, urethritis, glomerulonephritis, passage of stones, tuberculosis), tumors, stones, pyelonephritis and mechanical injuries;
... The norm is considered to be in men from 0 to 3 in the field of view. Everything from above speaks of the development of inflammatory processes in the body;
... In a healthy state, a person should not have more than 10 epithelial cells. An increase in their number occurs during the formation of stones and lesions of the genitourinary system, including the parenchyma of the kidneys, the mucous membrane of the bladder, urethra, pelvis and large ducts of the prostate;
... Cylindruria signals damage to the urinary organs and virus infection;

Unorganized sediment:

Crystals and amorphous masses indicate an abnormality in pH. The presence of urates, oxalates is possible with an acid reaction, and calcium and phosphates with an alkaline reaction. This may indicate the development of renal failure, hyperkalemia, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, diabetes mellitus, as well as infections and neoplasms in the organs of the genitourinary system;
... Infections and yeasts are most often caused by antibiotic treatment.
Change in color, odor, consistency and other visually noticeable indicators of urine is an alarming symptom. If the changes are not related to the diet or overstrain, and also do not go away for several days, it is necessary to correctly collect material for research and go to a therapist to exclude possible diseases.

Author Oleg Dobrolyubov

Candidate of Medical Sciences

General urine analysis with sediment microscopy is recognized as one of the most informative methodological techniques for diagnosing, monitoring the course of diseases and monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. Despite its simplicity and accessibility, this research method can provide all the necessary and important information about the processes occurring in the body, the work of its systems and organs, as well as signal possible failures and disorders in the functioning of the kidneys, which at this point in time are asymptomatic.

In the course of the analysis, the general properties and physicochemical composition of urine are investigated, as well as microscopy of the sediment. The following indicators are important in the diagnostic process: daily urine output, transparency, color, saturation, odor, density, acid-base pH reaction. In addition, the content of protein, glucose, bilirubin, ketone bodies and other components is determined. Microscopic analysis of urine is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the composition of the sediment, including blood cells and epithelium, crystals, bacteria, cylinders.

Urine is the end product of the body's vital activity, is produced by the kidneys and has a multicomponent composition that reflects the processes occurring in the body. In addition, the composition and properties of this biological fluid provide comprehensive information about the functioning of the kidneys and other organs of the urinary system. The interpretation of the results is carried out by a doctor.

When and for what purpose this urine test is prescribed:

Such a study must be prescribed by a doctor for patients suffering from pathologies of the kidneys, ureters, diseases of the bladder and urethra in order to diagnose and prescribe therapeutic measures.
A general urinalysis (OAM) is performed for differential diagnosis.
A general clinical study of excretion products is performed during the examination of the patient in order to identify inflammatory and infectious diseases.
During the treatment of any pathology, with the help of OAM, the functioning of the patient's body is monitored and the effectiveness of therapeutic measures is assessed.
Monitoring the patient's condition with laboratory clinical tests helps prevent the development of complications.
OAM is mandatory for monitoring the condition of persons in the pre- and postoperative period, before and after blood transfusion.
General clinical urine analysis is prescribed during the prophylactic examinations.

For general clinical analysis, morning urine accumulated overnight in the bladder is used. After collecting in a special container, the biomaterial must be delivered to the laboratory within an hour and a half.

During the study, the general properties of urine, the chemical composition and components of the sediment are assessed visually and using laboratory equipment:

Color. This indicator depends on the presence of pigments and can vary depending on the amount of liquid drunk and the quality of the food eaten. At the same time, a change in the color of urine usually indicates certain pathologies.
Transparency . Normal urine should not be cloudy. The presence of turbidity and sediment indicates the presence of pathological inclusions (salts, blood cells, epithelium, protein, excess mucus). Microscopy of the sediment helps to identify the specific disease and its causes.
Smell . Urine has a specific odor, but normally it is not fetid. Pathologies may be indicated by a sharp, putrid or ammoniacal odor of urine.
Density . Depends on the amount and composition of urine components and the higher, the more intense the color of the biomaterial.
Reaction . It is determined using litmus. Red paper - changes color to blue in an alkaline environment and does not change color in an acidic environment. Blue - turns red in an acidic environment and does not change color in an alkaline environment. Normally, in an ordinary person, urine has an acidic environment, and in vegetarians it is alkaline.
Protein. To determine the presence of protein, a reagent containing 20% sulfosalicylic acid is added to the urine in the amount of three to four milliliters. In the presence of protein, urine becomes cloudy, that is, they speak of albuminoria.
Sugar in urine. Normally, there should be no glucose in the urine. The study is carried out using special test strips, and the result is calculated on analyzers automatically.
Sediment research . The urine is preliminarily defended for 2 hours, and then centrifuged for 5-7 minutes.

Decoding the analysis of urine in the form of a table contains a list of the main indicators and their values. Only a physician should interpret the results and make a diagnosis.

Urine staining

The yellow-straw color of urine is considered normal, however, food consumed on the eve of the study may change it. The amount of fluid you drink also has an effect.

Test sample color	Possible reason for the deviation from the norm	What substance had a "coloring" effect
Rich yellow	Dehydration due to diarrhea, vomiting, low fluid intake. Edema associated with heart failure	Increased content of urochromes in urine
Pale yellow or colorless	Diabetes mellitus and insipidus, impaired renal function (concentration ability), overhydration	Decreased content of urochromes
Deep red	Urolithiasis, kidney infarction, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis	Blood cells in urine - erythrocytes, hemoglobin
"Dirty" red with haze (meat slops)	Tuberculosis of the kidney, ureters and bladder, nephrolithiasis, glomerulonephritis	Blood
Dark beer color	Diseases of the hepatobiliary system (cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, cholelithiasis), destruction of red blood cells	Bilirubin
Yellow-green	Oncology of the pancreas, intestinal malabsorption, jaundice	Urobilinogen
Blue-green	Putrefactive processes in the intestines, hypercalcemia
White	High amount of fat
Light milky	Bladder, urethral infections	pus

Brightly pigmented vegetables, fruits and berries can give an unusual color to urine.

In addition, medications and dyes in their composition can affect the color of the urine.

pH reaction

The acidity of the urine is an indicator of the effectiveness of the kidneys. This indicator depends on the characteristics of a person's diet, and usually ranges from 5 to 7.

The deviation of pH towards the acidic side (less than 5) is associated with:

with a predominance of meat products in the diet - this is a normal reaction;
with pathological conditions - gout, diabetes mellitus, dehydration (with diarrhea and vomiting), hypokalemia, starvation, fevers, acidosis, tuberculosis.

The shift in pH towards the alkaline side (higher) indicates:

about a vegetarian diet;
chronic renal failure;
hyperkalemia;
inflammation and infections of the urinary system.

In addition, body temperature, age, physical activity and time of day affect acidity indicators. The lowest rates are usually recorded on an empty stomach in the morning.

Protein

The presence of protein molecules in urine (proteinuria) indicates serious abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys or diseases of the bladder and excretory tract.

Proteinuria is a consequence of:

failures in the filtration mechanism (violation of the barrier function of the membranes of the renal glomeruli), due to glomerunephritis, nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome;
violations of protein reabsorption due to tubular pathologies in acute renal necrosis, heavy metal poisoning, sarcoidosis;
admission through renal filters of paraproteins with myeloma, myeglobulinaria.

The presence of protein in urine usually indicates the course of pathological processes in the body. However, it is assumed that with severe stress and prolonged physical exertion, febrile conditions, this indicator can have a value of up to 0.250 g / day.

Glucose

In healthy people, it is not present in the urine.

The appearance of glucose in the urine (glycosurkia) indicates that:

in the blood, the glucose level exceeded 10 mmol / l, and after filtration in the glomeruli, the renal tubules cannot completely absorb it back;
there are defects in the renal tubules themselves.

Sugar in urine can be a sign of diabetes mellitus and renal insipidus, acute pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, extensive injuries and burns, pregnancy and an excess of carbohydrates in the diet, acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis.

Bilirubin

Normally it is not found in urine.

The appearance of bilirubin in the urine indicates an excess of its level in the blood as a result of:

cirrhosis of the liver;
viral and toxic hepatitis;
diseases of the biliary tract;
mechanical damage to the liver parenchyma, tumor metastases in the parenchyma.

Urobilinogen

Allowable rates are 0-17 μmol / l. In excess, the urine has a rich yellow color. The reasons for the excess are diseases of the hepatobiliary system, toxic lesions, hemolytic anemia, malabsorption and putrefactive processes in the intestine, renal failure.

The reasons for the deficiency are intestinal dysbiosis, liver failure, obstruction of the biliary tract with a stone.

Ketone bodies

Normally, they are absent in urine. These are metabolic products formed in the liver - acetone, beta-hydroxybutyric and acetoacetic acids. Their presence in urine indicates pathological conditions: diabetes, oncology, anemia, malfunctioning of the pancreas. May appear with prolonged fasting and a carbohydrate-free diet.

Nitrite

Nitrous acid salts are normally absent in urine. Their appearance indicates the presence of microorganisms in the organs of the urinary system, which convert nitrates obtained with food into nitrites. These compounds in urine may indicate diseases of pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis.

The assessment of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the sediment is carried out after centrifugation.

The sediment consists of organic and inorganic elements:

organized - blood cells and epithelium, protein casts;
unorganized - salt crystals, microorganisms, fungi.

Erythrocytes The reasons for the appearance of red blood cells in the urine:

urolithiasis disease;
glomerulonephritis;
pyelonephritis;
infectious lesions of the genitourinary system;
tumor processes in the genitourinary tract;
trauma;
hemorrhagic diathesis.

Leukocytes

White blood cells in urine indicate inflammatory processes, and their content in excess of the norm indicates pyuria .

The norm of a woman is from 0 to 5. Men is from 0 to 3.

An excess of leukocytes in the urine indicates ongoing inflammatory processes in the kidneys and urinary organs:

in the case of urolithiasis;
with nephritis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis;

Epithelial cells

The appearance of an excessive amount of these cells indicates infectious diseases of the genitourinary system:

transitional epithelium - nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, cystitis;
renal - pathologies of the parenchyma, infectious diseases, glomerunephritis, pyelonephritis.

An excess of squamous epithelial cells is observed with urinary tract infections.

Cylinders

Protein formations of a cylindrical shape, containing or not containing inclusions. They are “casts” of renal tubules, and their presence is a sign of serious kidney disease, fever, circulatory disorders, and severe poisoning.

Normally, the cylinders in the urine should be absent.

Bacteria and fungi

They should not be in urine. If they are detected, urine culture is additionally carried out to determine the type of bacteria and their resistance to antibiotics.

Crystalline structures

The appearance of an excess of salt in urine may indicate the formation of calculi in the bladder, ureter and urethra. In case of violations of the urinary organs, the acidity of urine is disturbed.

Depending on the deviations, stones of different types can form:

urates - deviation of pH towards the acidic side;
phosphates - in an alkaline environment;
oxalates are a neutral acid reaction.

When a patient comes for a preventive examination to a therapist, or is examined to identify the causes of deterioration in health, he must be prescribed a study of biological fluids. In the course of such a diagnosis, microscopy of urine sediment is almost always carried out, which is an additional research activity.

During the study of urine, a specialist will engage in a detailed study, calculation and assessment of the quality of the elements of the sediment that are in its composition. Thanks to this, it will be possible to confirm or deny the primary diagnosis, and subsequently to correct the state of health.

Urine microscopy provides for compliance with all collection rules and adherence to the delivery time of biological material to the laboratory. If urine is transported later than two hours, then the test result may be incorrect. For the analysis, the morning portion of urine is necessarily used.

Collect biological fluid in a clean and dry container. You can buy a suitable sterile container at almost any pharmacy. When microscopy of urine sediment is prescribed, the decoding will be correct only if all the rules of intimate hygiene are followed.

What does a microscopic examination of urine sediment look like? Source: vokabula.rf

Hematuria (increased content of blood in the urine);
Pyuria (the presence of purulent exudate in urine);
Bacteriuria (high levels of pathogenic bacteria);
Hemoglobinuria (critically high levels of hemoglobin);
Cylindruria (excessive content of protein cylinders in the urine).

Microscopic examination of urine, in order to obtain correct results, requires adherence to the algorithm. Initially, no more than 10 ml of biological fluid is taken from the container, which contains the entire volume of urine, using a pipette, and always from the very bottom. After that, it is subjected to centrifugation for 5-7 minutes (1500 rpm).

As a result of all the manipulations, a material suitable for research is obtained. When urine microscopy is performed, decoding involves examining one drop by means of low and high magnification. All the data that were obtained are subsequently taken into account when making a diagnosis. They also help in identifying infectious and inflammatory processes, metabolic disorders.

Interpretation

General urine analysis with sediment microscopy is characterized by a high level of information content. During the deciphering of the results, the impact of some external factors must be taken into account, for example: taking medications, visiting a bath or sauna, increased physical activity, adherence to a diet.

Microscopic examination can reveal pyuria and hematuria. Source: levitra.net.ua

All constituent elements are classified into organic and non-organic, depending on their type of origin. It is also worth noting that for each substance in medicine there are generally accepted norms, the deviation from which is the reason for the most complete examination of the patient.

Hemoglobin

When a urine sediment microscopy analysis is assigned (a photo with a description of the results can be viewed in each laboratory individually), first of all, attention is paid to the absence or presence of hemoglobin in the biological material. If it is determined, then this is considered a pathological deviation from the norm.

This condition indicates the ingress of erythrocyte breakdown products into urine. This occurs when influenza, pneumonia, or acute infection progresses. But do not discount the impact of external factors, including hypothermia, injury, poisoning.

When a urine microscopy analysis is performed, the decoding also involves studying the color of the biological material. Urine takes on a pronounced reddish-brown tint. Against this background, soreness may also appear in the lumbar region of the back. Often this happens with an unsuccessful blood transfusion, when the biomaterials of the donor and recipient do not match.

Erythrocytes

During microscopic examination of urine sediment, unchanged or leached erythrocytes may be found in urine. Depending on the level of hemoglobin concentration in the biomaterial, if these are leached substances, then there are no red blood cells in them.

The norm and deviation of the number of red blood cells in the urine. Source: lechenie-simptomy.ru

Urine microscopy analysis cannot be performed during menstrual bleeding, as unnecessary secretions can enter the biological material. There are also other reasons for the development of hematuria, including:

Kidney disease or injury;
Diathesis;
The presence of calculi in the kidneys;
The presence of tumors in the organs of the genitourinary system;
Infectious processes affecting the pelvic organs;
Poisoning of various types.

When urine microscopy is performed, and the number of erythrocytes is assessed, no more than three of them can be determined in female urine, and one in men. In all other cases, hematuria is diagnosed, in which the color of urine may be changed or remain the same.

Leukocytes

Normal microscopy of the sediment should not show the presence of leukocytes in the biological material in an amount from 0 to 5 in women, and from 0 to 3 in men. In situations where the upper limits are exceeded, then the patient may progress pyuria (the presence of pus) or leukocyturia.

In the first case, the patient's health condition is difficult, since the inflammatory process progresses in the body. To determine exactly where the focus is, you will need to pass a three-glass urine sample. If pyuria is in the first glass, then the prostate or urethra has been damaged, with pyuria in the third glass, cystitis is diagnosed. With an excess of leukocytes, the development of kidney or bladder pathologies is suggested.

Epithelium

Urine analysis with sediment microscopy also makes it possible to identify the presence or absence of epithelial cells in the urine. As for single values, they can normally be present, and this happens quite often. The classification here also provides for the distribution of cells according to the nature of origin.

Epithelial cells in urine by microscopy.

What is urine sediment microscopy? This question will be answered by the attending physician. A general urine test is a familiar analysis that almost each of us has taken at least once in our life. This analysis reveals the general properties of urine, as well as its chemical and physical characteristics. It is important to remember that urine in humans is the end product in the work of the kidneys, which is why it is a source that reflects the state of metabolism, blood and metabolism. The content of urine is very diverse, it contains water, metabolic substances, leukocytes, hormones, trace elements, cells of the tubules and mucous membranes of the urinary tract, salts, electrolytes, mucous components.

Knowledge of the properties of urine provides information not only about the kidneys and the state of the urinary tract in humans, but also helps to assess the metabolism and detect those pathologies that are in the internal organs.

However, the general analysis of urine cannot fully reveal all these details, and here microscopic examination of urine sediment comes to the rescue.
What is it and why is this research needed? Urine microscopy is a qualitative and quantitative determinant of a number of compounds in the urine, which in turn help to determine and identify whether a patient has infectious or inflammatory processes in the body. That is, we can say that microscopic examination makes it possible to investigate deeper indicators and, accordingly, obtain additional information.

Urinary sediment is divided into two types:

Organized - this composition includes elements of organic origin, such as electrolytes, erythrocytes, leukocytes, mucus, casts, epithelium.
Unorganized - this type is made up of elements that have an inorganic origin. Namely, crystalline and amorphous salts. To understand each component, you need to look at each of them separately.

Erythrocytes in urine (hematuria, blood). The human body excretes 2,000,000 red blood cells in urine per day. If a person has no abnormalities, then when studying the urine sediment, women should have 0-3 erythrocytes, men 0-1. An indicator above this already indicates a problem, since this is a sure sign of hematuria.

In turn, hematuria is of 2 types:

Macrohematuria. If there is this type, then the patient's urine color changes.
Microhematuria. In this case, the color does not change. Microhematuria will be revealed only by microscopic examination.

Analysis decoding

How is the interpretation of the analysis results? In the urinary sediment, erythrocytes are unchanged and changed. Fresh unchanged erythrocytes are found in those who have urinary tract infections: for example, with cystitis, urethritis, or when passing stones.

And if the analysis reveals the presence of leached erythrocytes in the patient, then this is primarily due to the kidneys. This type of red blood cells occurs in people with tuberculosis, with glomerulonephritis and other renal ailments. To identify the source, the triple test method is used, where a person takes tests in three vessels.

Leukocytes. Another parameter that is shown by microscopic examination of urine is the number of leukocytes. Usually, in women and children, their number should be 0-6, and in men 0-3, everything that is more than this already speaks of pathology.

And violations are as follows. Infectious leukocyturia - with this type of disorder, a person must have symptoms. This can be fever, pain when urinating, or pain in the lumbar region. All this indicates the presence of infection and inflammation in the kidneys or in the urinary tract. To determine the source, the patient again undergoes a study using the triple test method.

Sterile leukocyturia - the patient does not have dysuria and bacteriura. This happens in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. Sterile leukocyturia in the sediment is due to dirt when passing urine for research, with pathology of the body after certain medications, bladder cancer, kidney disease and nephritis.

Urethral syndrome - with pain during urination and leukocytes in the urine. More common in women.

There are also epithelial cells in the urine, but their presence should not be more than 10. It all depends on what type of epithelium prevails in the sediment:

Squamous cells - can get into the urine from the genitals. They are not particularly dangerous.
Transitional epithelial cells - they cover the mucous membrane of the urethra, urethra, pelvis, large ducts of the prostate. If there are a lot of them in the analysis, then this is a manifestation of inflammation that occurs in these organs or during the formation of stones in the urinary tract.
In humans, renal epithelial cells are formed when the renal parenchyma is affected or intoxication, infectious diseases, and circulatory disorders are present.

In a healthy person, cylinders are not present in the urine, however, there are single cylinders during the day. But it doesn't make any difference. Cylinders are proteins that coagulate in the renal tubules in the lumen. They include the contents of the tubules. And the cylinders themselves are found in the shape of the tubules (a cylindrical cast).

The presence of cylindruria gives a signal of kidney damage, and, as a rule, always appears together with protein and renal epithelium in the urine.

Unorganized sediment. This component of urine consists of salt precipitated in the form of crystals and amorphous masses. The nature of the salts depends on the ph of the urine and not only. For example, if there is an acid reaction in the urine, then urates, oxalates can be found. If the reaction is alkaline, then calcium and phosphates will be present.

Material collection rules

It is important to remember simple rules when passing a urine test. Failure to follow these simple rules can distort the result and, at best, you will have to re-take the tests. The rules that must be followed when passing the analysis:

only urine taken early in the morning is taken for analysis;
before taking the analysis for 12 hours, you can not live a sexually active life;
you need to take the analysis on an empty stomach;
to collect analyzes, special forms are used today, that is, banks and the like are not suitable for collecting urine;
it is important to maintain good hygiene, but do not use special gels, as this can change the result.

It is also important to remember that prevention is cheaper than treatment, so it is necessary to take an analysis 2 times a year as a preventive measure. After all, it is always easier to prevent diseases than to cure later.

For the diagnosis of diseases, a urine test is required. The decryption process consists of several stages. They allow you to detect deviations from the norm. Sediment in the urine does not always indicate the presence of diseases, but may be their consequence or appear due to other reasons.

Sediment microscopy technique

Microscopy is a procedure when a part of the liquid is taken from the bottom of the container with a pipette. The urine before this should stand still for 1 to 2 hours. A sediment forms at the bottom, part of which is taken for analysis. The liquid from the pipette is placed in a centrifuge and processed for 5 to 7 minutes. Then the composition of urine is analyzed. Microscopy of urine sediment reveals abnormalities.

The liquid is collected in the morning. Before the procedure, the genitals must be thoroughly washed. The urine is then collected in a sterile container. After a couple of hours, 10 ml of sediment is taken from the bottom of the settled liquid. After processing in a centrifuge, solid particles are released and settle at the bottom of the tube. The sediment is then examined under a microscope using high and low magnification.

Composition and types of urine sediment

Urine in a healthy person is a clear, light golden liquid. Normally, there should be no sediment. If it appears, it can be of different colors - red, brown or white. It depends on the reason for the deviation from the accepted norm. The main elements of the sediment are:

Erythrocytes entering the urine from the blood. For a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude the penetration of menstrual flow into the urine. Therefore, microscopy is not performed on critical women's days. More details
Leukocytes are constantly circulating in the blood. However, normal rates differ depending on the sex of the person. Why do they end up in urine and when to worry, read on.
Crystalline or amorphous salts are divided into several varieties. Read the article "".
in small quantities it is secreted by the epithelium.
- These are particles of the renal epithelium or coagulated protein. Elements are of several types (waxy, leukocytic, hyaline, erythrocytic, granular, epithelial). Microscopic examination of urine sediment allows the presence of only one species in a small amount.
The last component of the sediment is. It is divided into three types - renal, flat and polymorphic. The epithelium is the cellular tissue that covers the mucous membranes and the surface of the body.

The investigated microparticles are divided into organized and unorganized. Group composition:

Organized urine sediment - leukocytes, red blood cells (erythrocytes), cylinders, epithelial tissue particles. All of these microparticles are organic.
Unorganized urine sediment - fungi, salts of various types, mucus, microorganisms (bacteria).

The number of the listed elements is analyzed. Based on the results obtained, conclusions are drawn about the presence or absence of diseases in the body.

You should know! Studying concentrated material provides a more complete picture.

Reasons for the appearance

Artificial sediment (after taking certain medications, eating a number of foods) can be present in the urine of every person. This does not always indicate a disease. White sediment in the urine of men may indicate that sperm has entered the urine if the fluid was collected immediately after waking up. However, in most cases this is considered a deviation.

White sediment in the urine of women and men indicates. This almost always speaks of kidney disease or inflammatory processes in the body.

During pregnancy, leukocytes in urine under microscopy can affect the appearance of a white precipitate. This indicates the presence of problems in the urinary system.

Turbid urine with sediment is an indicator of the presence of salts, epithelial particles, mucus and other elements in urine. Sometimes leukocytes and pathogenic organisms (bacteria) are mixed with them. A reddish tint of the sediment occurs with an increased content of erythrocytes in the liquid.

Amorphous urates give the same color. They appear in large quantities with stagnation in the kidneys, fevers, acute or chronic glomerulonephritis. The causes of sediment in the urine in women, men and children can be clarified by a laboratory study of urine of a general plan. In difficult cases, additional diagnostic methods are prescribed.

Norm

Deciphering urine microscopy makes it possible to learn more about the state of human health. The following are considered the norm:

Small amounts of white blood cells (leukocytes) in urine are allowed. In men, there can be a maximum of three, in women - five (in the urine sediment during pregnancy, the indicator is similar).
Red blood cells (erythrocytes). They are allowed in the urine in small amounts. The urine should not contain more than two red blood cells.
The epithelium has three types. Flat is always present in a small amount in the sediment, but it does not really matter. Women can have a maximum of five units, and men have three. All other varieties indicate disease.

Of the cylinders, only hyaline ones are allowed. Salt, mushrooms should be absent. The latter are sometimes detected in urine with sediment during pregnancy if a woman is taking antibacterial agents.

Deviations from the norm

Indicates the activation of the breakdown of erythrocytes that enter it. It can be provoked by infectious diseases, mechanical damage to internal organs, unsuccessful blood transfusion or hypothermia. The most common cause is kidney disease.

The high white blood cell count explains why the sediment is white in the urine. This means that purulent masses are present in urine, which indicates progressive inflammatory processes in the body. A white sediment in the urine may indicate impaired renal function. Another reason may be rejection of the delivered graft.
The abundance of squamous epithelium particles usually indicates errors made during the collection of material. The analysis requires a retake. Sometimes this indicator indicates inflammation in the urinary tract. The presence of even a minimal amount of renal and polymorphic epithelium signals serious damage to internal organs.
If, in addition to the permissible hyaline cylinders, urine analysis with sediment microscopy showed the presence of other species, it may be about impaired renal function, poisoning, infectious diseases or febrile conditions.
Bacteria indicate infectious ailments (in particular, cystitis, urethritis).
Mucus indicates a developing inflammatory process.

If the urine with sediment contains salts, this signals dehydration, depletion of the body with diets, poisoning with toxins. It is also an indicator of renal failure. It is possible to judge the severity of certain pathological processes by how much the urine is exceeded from the norm in the results of microscopic examination of urine.

Factors that can influence results

When decoding the results of microscopic examination of urine, factors that could affect the resulting picture are taken into account. These are physical activity, diet, overwork, as well as taking medications (antibacterial, hormonal, diuretic).

You must tell your doctor about all important features. This will help him to correctly decipher the information received. It is important to remember the rules for collecting urine for general urine analysis with sediment microscopy. The liquid must be in the morning - you need to collect it immediately after waking up, on an empty stomach.

Important! The less time elapses from the moment of urine collection to its delivery to the laboratory, the more accurate the results will be.

Microscopy of urine is the study of its sediment obtained by processing a liquid in a centrifuge. The method is widespread and in demand. It is considered reliable. Allows you to get information about the presence or absence of pathological processes in the body.

Is it possible to get pregnant after medical termination of pregnancy

When is a medical abortion indicated for a frozen pregnancy?

What antipyretic can a nursing mother

What do they look like in the photo and how are diaper rash in newborns treated?