[Personal experience with infrared spectrometry analysis of urinary calculi]

Analysis of urinary concrements has a very important place in clinical biochemistry departments, as it is one of the basic prerequisites for effective causal therapy and prophylaxis of nephrolithiasis. Qualitative chemical reactions, used most frequently, have shortcomings as regards the identification of components of calculi and do not provide a real idea on the composition of calculi (9). An accurate identification can be made only by physical methods, which, however, call for very expensive equipment. Clinical departments in Prague, Brno and Ostrava collaborate therefore with research institutes which possess the necessary equipment and where the analyses of calculi are made. Because the majority of clinical biochemical departments have limited access to modern infrared computer controlled spectrometers, this form of collaboration was used also in the authors' department.