Urinalysis (cont.)
What are the pros and cons of dip sticks?
The main advantage of dipsticks is that they are convenient, easy to interpret, and cost-effective for urinalysis testing. They can be analyzed within minutes of urine collection in the doctor's office or in the emergency room to provide valuable information.
However, what can be learned from a dipstick is limited by the design of the dipstick. The main disadvantage is that the information may not be very accurate as the test is time-sensitive. It also provides limited information about the urine as it is qualitative test and not a quantitative test (for
example, it does not give a precise measure of the quantity of abnormality).
What is microscopic urinalysis?
The microscopic urinalysis is the study of the urine under the microscope. It requires only a relatively inexpensive light microscope. Cells and cellular debris, bacteria, and crystals in the urine can detected by this examination to provide further clinical clues.
How is microscopic urinalysis done?
Microscopic urinalysis is done simply pouring the urine sample into a test tube and centrifuging it (spinning it down in a machine) for a few minutes. The top liquid part (the supernatant) is discarded. The solid part left in the bottom of the test tube (the urine sediment) is mixed with the remaining drop of urine in the test tube and one drop is analyzed under a microscope.
First, the sediment is examined through the microscope under low-power to identify what are called casts, crystals, squamous (flat) cells, and other large objects.
Examination is then performed through the microscope at high power to further identify any cells, bacteria and clumps of cells or debris called casts.
Next: What kind of cells can be detected? »
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