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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 dihydrate (envelope-shaped)
Calcium oxalate monohydrate (oval and biscuit-shaped)
Calcium oxalate monohydrate (oval and biscuit-shaped)

Native sediment

Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate
Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate
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 dihydrate (envelope-shaped)
Calcium oxalate monohydrate
Calcium oxalate monohydrate
Calcium oxalate – monohydrate (oval form) and dihydrate (evelope-shaped)
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 (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid
Uric acid

Native sediment

Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (barrel-shaped)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid (needle form)
Uric acid
Uric acid

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Uric acid (lemon-shaped)
Massive uric acid
Massive uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid

Ammonium urate

Stained sediment

Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate

Native sediment

Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Ammonium urate
Ammonium urate

Triple phosphate

Ammonium magnesium phosphate crystals (Triple phosphate).

Stained sediment

Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate crystal
Triple phosphate crystal
Triple phosphate (arrows)
Triple phosphate (arrows)

Native sediment

Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate (arrows)
Triple phosphate (arrows)

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
Triple phosphate (coffin-shaped)
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
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate

Native sediment

Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped and star-shaped druses)
Calcium phosphate
Calcium phosphate

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped)
Calcium phosphate (needle-shaped)

Bilirubin

Stained sediment

Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin

Native sediment

Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin

Cystine

Stained sediment

Cystine
Cystine
Cystine
Cystine

Native sediment

Cystine
Cystine
Cystine
Cystine

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Cystine
Cystine
Cystine
Cystine

Amorphous microcrystals

Stained sediment

Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals

Native sediment

Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals

Pictures from FUS-2000 analyzer (DIRUI)

Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
Amorphous microcrystals
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