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More urine sediment images with explanations are found on the Complete Urinalysis
IDEXX UA Strips
Specific Gravity: The urine specific gravity should be measured with pH: Urine pH is determined by the kidneys ability to regulate hydrogen
a refractometer, which measures the density of the urine relative to the ion and bicarbonate concentrations within the blood. Urine pH may
density of water. This value should be interpreted in light of the patients reflect the animals acid-base status if hydration status and overall plasma
hydration status and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine electrolyte balance are not markedly disturbed.
levels.
Nitrite: The nitrite test is not valid for veterinary use. The majority of bacterial
infections in dogs and cats are not caused by organisms that reduce nitrate
Leukocytes: The leukocyte test pad detects the enzyme leukocyte to nitrite. Both false positive and false negative results are common in
esterase, not individual leukocytes. Evaluation of urine leukocytes must veterinary medicine, making this assay too insensitive for general use.
be confirmed by urine microscopic examination. The sensitivity and
specificity of the leukocyte esterase test pad is questionable in veterinary
medicine, especially in cat urine.
Glucose: Glucose is not usually detectable in the urine of dogs and cats
and must exceed the renal threshold for reabsorption to be noted. This
value should be evaluated in light of the patients activity status and blood
Protein: While small amounts of protein may normally be found in glucose level.
the urine, proteinuria can indicate both renal and nonrenal disease. If
significant proteinuria is detected and there is an inactive sediment,
urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) should be performed for protein Urobilinogen: Intestinal bacteria convert conjugated bilirubin to
quantification for accurate assessment and monitoring. urobilinogen. A freshly produced urine sample is necessary for evaluation.
The correlation between increases or decreases of urine urobilinogen and
liver disease in animals is poor.
Ketones: Urine ketones are produced by the breakdown of lipids. Causes
for elevations include diabetic ketoacidosis, prolonged fasting, starvation Blood: The blood/heme reaction detects heme groups found within
and low-carbohydrate diets. hemoglobin and myoglobin. The test may be positive because of hematuria,
hemoglobinuria or myoglobinuria.
Bilirubin: In dogs (especially male dogs) bilirubinuria is common even Compensation Pad: This white pad, which is not impregnated with reagents,
under normal conditions, but any bilirubinuria in cats is significant. is used by the IDEXX VetLab UA Analyzer to compensate for the intensive
Bilirubinuria usually precedes bilirubinemia because urine is commonly intrinsic color of the urine that might affect the evaluation of the parameters for
concentrated (hypersthenuric) compared to plasma. leukocytes, protein, glucose, ketone bodies, urobilinogen and bilirubin.
Interpretation (Expected Values) Easy
Analyte Normal Reporting Results Efficient
WBC 05 / HPF Number / HPF
Consistent
RBC 05 / HPF Number / HPF
Epithelial Cells 0Few / HPF Number / HPF
Crystals Variable Number / LPF
Casts 0Few / LPF Number / LPF
Bacteria 0Few / HPF 1 + to 4 + / HPF
IDEXX VetLab UA Analyzer and IDEXX UA Strips
Urine Sediment Guide
Cells
Figure 1Erythrocytes and one squamous Figure 2Erythrocytes and two leukocytes Figure 3Numerous leukocytes and few
epithelial cell (black arrows) rod-shaped bacteria
Figure 4Many rod-shaped bacteria Figure 5 Many leukocytes and large rod- Figure 6 Numerous bacteria and leukocytes
100x objective field of view shaped bacteria (black arrowheads)
Figure 7 Transitional epithelial cells Figure 8 Squamous epithelial cells Figure 9Epithelial cells (black arrows), RBC
(red arrows) and WBC (blue arrows)
Figure 10Transitional cell carcinoma Figure 11Transitional cell carcinoma Figure 12Transitional cell carcinoma
(NMB wet prep on right) (NMB wet prep on right) air-dried and Diff-Quik stained
Casts
Figure 13Hyaline cast (borders outlined) Figure 14Granular (left) and mixed waxy Figure 15 Waxy cast
and granular (right) casts
Crystals and
Miscellaneous
Figure 19 Ammonium urate Figure 20Left: Calcium oxalate monohydrate Figure 21Drug (Tribrissen) crystals
Right: Calcium oxalate dihydrate 10x objective field of view
Figure 1Erythrocytes and one squamous Figure 2Erythrocytes and two leukocytes Figure 3Numerous leukocytes and few
epithelial cell (black arrows) rod-shaped bacteria
Figure 4Many rod-shaped bacteria Figure 5 Many leukocytes and large rod- Figure 6 Numerous bacteria and leukocytes
100x objective field of view shaped bacteria (black arrowheads)
Figure 7 Transitional epithelial cells Figure 8 Squamous epithelial cells Figure 9Epithelial cells (black arrows), RBC
(red arrows) and WBC (blue arrows)
Figure 10Transitional cell carcinoma Figure 11Transitional cell carcinoma Figure 12Transitional cell carcinoma
(NMB wet prep on right) (NMB wet prep on right) air-dried and Diff-Quik stained
Casts
Figure 13Hyaline cast (borders outlined) Figure 14Granular (left) and mixed waxy Figure 15 Waxy cast
and granular (right) casts
Crystals and
Miscellaneous
Figure 19 Ammonium urate Figure 20Left: Calcium oxalate monohydrate Figure 21Drug (Tribrissen) crystals
Right: Calcium oxalate dihydrate 10x objective field of view
IDEXX Contact your IDEXX representative or your distributor representative for more details.
IDEXX UA Strips
Specific Gravity: The urine specific gravity should be measured with pH: Urine pH is determined by the kidneys ability to regulate hydrogen
a refractometer, which measures the density of the urine relative to the ion and bicarbonate concentrations within the blood. Urine pH may
density of water. This value should be interpreted in light of the patients reflect the animals acid-base status if hydration status and overall plasma
hydration status and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine electrolyte balance are not markedly disturbed.
levels.
Nitrite: The nitrite test is not valid for veterinary use. The majority of bacterial
infections in dogs and cats are not caused by organisms that reduce nitrate
Leukocytes: The leukocyte test pad detects the enzyme leukocyte to nitrite. Both false positive and false negative results are common in
esterase, not individual leukocytes. Evaluation of urine leukocytes must veterinary medicine, making this assay too insensitive for general use.
be confirmed by urine microscopic examination. The sensitivity and
specificity of the leukocyte esterase test pad is questionable in veterinary
medicine, especially in cat urine.
Glucose: Glucose is not usually detectable in the urine of dogs and cats
and must exceed the renal threshold for reabsorption to be noted. This
value should be evaluated in light of the patients activity status and blood
Protein: While small amounts of protein may normally be found in glucose level.
the urine, proteinuria can indicate both renal and nonrenal disease. If
significant proteinuria is detected and there is an inactive sediment,
urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) should be performed for protein Urobilinogen: Intestinal bacteria convert conjugated bilirubin to
quantification for accurate assessment and monitoring. urobilinogen. A freshly produced urine sample is necessary for evaluation.
The correlation between increases or decreases of urine urobilinogen and
liver disease in animals is poor.
Bilirubin: In dogs (especially male dogs) bilirubinuria is common even Compensation Pad: This white pad, which is not impregnated with reagents,
under normal conditions, but any bilirubinuria in cats is significant. is used by the IDEXX VetLab UA Analyzer to compensate for the intensive
Bilirubinuria usually precedes bilirubinemia because urine is commonly intrinsic color of the urine that might affect the evaluation of the parameters for
concentrated (hypersthenuric) compared to plasma. leukocytes, protein, glucose, ketone bodies, urobilinogen and bilirubin.