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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Quartz renal calculi: were we being led up the garden path?
C W Sies1, J Cadwallader, C M Florkowski
1Clinical Biochemistry Unit, Canterbury Health Laboratories, Christchurch, New Zealand. chris.sies@cdhb.govt.nz
Abstract:
Quartz stones are often considered to be of non-human origin or factitious, although in some cases, they may have a biological aetiology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy was used to analyse fragmented renal stones from a 61-year-old lady who presented with bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Analysis of the calculi from the left kidney showed a mixed composition: 50% calcium oxalate monohydrate and 50% quartz. This case highlights the usefulness of XRD in the differentiation of authentic from possibly factitious renal calculi.
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