Crystals
The presence of crystals and amorphous microcrystalline deposits in urine is not considered a significant clinical finding. However, both parameters are determined and their amount is evaluated.
Crystals have various crystalline structure and they occur in many forms. The pH of urine is important factor for their formation and structure, although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish them even then. In that case, the elements could be classified only as crystals – without further specification.
The most frequent crystals in urine are: oxalate and uric acid (in acidic urine) or phosphate (in alkaline urine). Rarely found crystals in urine: bilirubin, cysteine, leucine, tyrosine or drug. We distinguish two types of amorphous microcrystals – amorphous urates in acidic urine and amorphous phosphates in alkaline urine.
Oxalates
Stained sediment
Calcium oxalate dihydrate (envelope-shaped)
Calcium oxalate monohydrate (oval and biscuit-shaped)
Native sediment
Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate
Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Calcium oxalate dihydrate (envelope-shaped)
Calcium oxalate monohydrate
Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate (evelope-shaped)
Uric acid
Various forms of crystals of uric acid
Stained sediment
Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid
Native sediment
Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Massive uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid
Ammonium urate
Stained sediment
Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate
Native sediment
Ammonium urate
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Ammonium urate
Triple phosphate
Ammonium magnesium phosphate crystals (Triple phosphate).
Stained sediment
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate crystal
Triple phosphate (arrows)
Native sediment
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate (arrows)
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Calcium phosphate
These crystals can be differentiated from uric acid crystals by polarization microscopy. Unlike uric acid, calcium phosphate doesn't turn polarized light.
Stained sediment
Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate
Native sediment
Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped)
Bilirubin
Stained sediment
Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Native sediment
Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Cystine
Stained sediment
Cystine
Cystine
Native sediment
Cystine
Cystine
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Cystine
Cystine
Amorphous microcrystals
Stained sediment
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Native sediment
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals