Related Experiment Videos
Inaccuracy and inefficiency of urinary sediment analysis
Y M Yoo1, N Tatsumi, K Kirihigashi
1Department of Clinical Pathology, Seoul National University, Korea.
Osaka City Medical Journal
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Urine sediment analysis shows high precision for cell counts but doubtful efficiency overall. While useful for detecting hematuria and leukocyturia, it requires significant resources and often yields negative results.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
Background:
- Urine sediment analysis is a common diagnostic tool.
- Its efficiency and reliability in routine clinical practice require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficiency and precision of urine sediment analysis.
- To assess the correlation of cell and cast counts between experienced and inexperienced technologists.
Main Methods:
- Repeatability tests for red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells, and casts.
- Correlation analysis of counts obtained by expert and inexperienced technologists.
- Analysis of clinical requests, results, and presence of hematuria/leukocyturia.
Main Results:
- High precision was observed for red blood cell, white blood cell, and epithelial cell counts, but not for casts.
- Good correlation for cell counts between technologists; low correlation for casts.
- Hematuria and leukocyturia frequently detected in specimens positive for occult blood or albumin.
- Hyaline casts were most common; pathologic casts found with red and white blood cells.
- Most analyses showed negative results despite frequent clinical requests.
- Microscopic analysis is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requires experience, but is more sensitive than tape tests.
Conclusions:
- Urine sediment analysis offers advantages but its overall efficiency is questionable.
- The method is sensitive but resource-intensive, with a high rate of negative findings.
- Further optimization may be needed to improve the efficiency of urine sediment analysis.