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Updated: May 7, 2026
Quality-Controlled Sputum Analysis by Flow Cytometry
Published on: August 9, 2021
Pediatric reference values for urine particle quantification by using automated flow cytometer: results of a
Fabio Manoni1, Gianluca Gessoni, Alberta Caleffi
1Servizio di Medicina di Laboratorio, ULSS 17, Monselice, PD, Italy.
Insights
This study established pediatric upper reference values for urine particles using automated flow cytometry. Results showed comparable values across genders and analyzers, optimizing pediatric urinalysis workflows.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Laboratory Medicine
Background:
- Routine urinalysis is crucial for pediatric health assessment.
- Automated flow cytometry offers efficient urine particle analysis.
- Establishing pediatric-specific reference values is essential for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define pediatric upper reference values for urine particle quantification.
- To evaluate automated flow cytometry for analyzing pediatric urine samples.
- To compare results between different automated analyzers.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter study involving 161 Italian children (1-12 years).
- Analysis of urine particles including white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial cells, casts, and bacteria.
- Utilized Sysmex UF-100 and Sysmex UF-1000i automated flow cytometers.
Main Results:
- Established upper reference values for various urine particles in children.
- No significant gender-based differences were observed for any parameter.
- Analyzers showed comparable results, except for bacteria quantification.
Conclusions:
- Automated urine particle analysis is suitable for optimizing pediatric urinalysis.
- Obtained pediatric reference limits are comparable to existing literature values.
- The findings support the use of automated flow cytometry in pediatric diagnostics.
Objectives:
The purpose of this Italian multicenter study was to define pediatric upper reference values for urine particle quantification by using automated flow cytometry.
Design And Methods:
Four hospital-based clinical laboratories participated in this multicenter investigation, which included a total study population of 161 Italian children aged from 1 to 12years. Two laboratories used Sysmex UF-100 and analyzed 86 children, whereas the other two used Sysmex UF-1000i and analyzed 75 subjects. Particle quantification included the analysis of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), squamous epithelial cells (EC), transitional epithelial cells (TC), casts (CAST) and bacteria (BACT).
Results:
The upper reference values in subjects tested with the Sysmex UF-100 were 9.7WBC/μL, 10.1RBC/μL, 7.5EC/μL, 2.5TC/μL, 0.7CAST/μL and 3090BACT/μL, whereas the upper reference values in subjects tested with the Sysmex UF-1000i were 10.5WBC/μL, 8.3RBC/μL, 7.2EC/μL, 2.9TC/μL, 0.7CAST/μL and 48BACT/μL. No statistically significant differences between genders were found in the value distribution of any of the parameters tested. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two urine analyzers, except for BACT.
Conclusions:
Automated analysis of urine particles appears a suitable means to optimize the workflow of routine urinalysis of children specimens. The upper reference limits for pediatric subjects obtained in this study were comparable to those previously reported in the literature, with no significant differences between genders and analyzers.
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