Urinalysis, Complete With Microscopic Examination

CPT: 81001
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Test Includes

Color; appearance; specific gravity; pH; protein; glucose; occult blood; ketones; leukocyte esterase; nitrite; bilirubin; urobilinogen; microscopic examination of urine sediment


Expected Turnaround Time

Within 1 day


Related Documents


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Urine (random)


Volume

3-9 mL (Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube) (preferred) or 2 mL or greater (non-preserved urine)


Minimum Volume

3 mL (Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube) (preferred) or 2 mL (non-preserved urine) (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)


Container

Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube (preferred) or urine bottle/urine transport tube (non-preserved)


Collection

A voided specimen is usually suitable. If the specimen is likely to be contaminated, a clean catch midstream specimen is desirable.


Storage Instructions

Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube: room temperature for up to 72 hours

Urine bottle/urine transport tube (non-preserved): room temperature up to 2 hours and refrigerated up to 48 hours


Causes for Rejection

Quantity not sufficient for analysis; improper labeling; tubes with boric acid or tartaric acid (e.g., BD gray-top C&S tube); Labcorp red-top C&S tube; Boricon, Bortiex, or Boricult yellow-top C&S tubes; urine transport tube with Triclosan; specimen received in Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube more than 72 hours old; specimen received in urine cup stored at room temperature greater than 2 hours old; specimen received in urine cup refrigerated more than 48 hours old; frozen specimens; Vacutainer® red/yellow urine transport tube less than 3 mL or greater than 9 mL


Test Details


Use

Detect abnormalities of urine; diagnose and manage renal diseases, urinary tract infection, urinary tract neoplasms, systemic diseases, and inflammatory or neoplastic diseases adjacent to the urinary tract


Limitations

Insufficient volume may limit the extent of procedures performed. Metabolites of Pyridium® may interfere with the dipstick reactions by producing color interference. High vitamin C intake may cause an underestimate of glucosuria, or a false-negative nitrite test. Survival of WBCs is decreased by low osmolality, alkalinity, and lack of refrigeration.


Methodology

Reagent strip and light microscopy


Additional Information

MICROSCOPY:

Crystalluria is frequently observed in urine specimens stored at room temperature or refrigerated. Such crystals are diagnostically useful when observed in warm, fresh urine by a physician evaluating microhematuria, nephrolithiasis, or toxin ingestion.

In abundance, calcium oxalate and/or hippurate crystals may suggest ethylene glycol ingestion (especially if known to be accompanied by neurological abnormalities, appearance of drunkenness, hypertension, and a high anion gap acidosis). Large numbers of calcium oxalate crystals occur, as well, with acute renal failure following methoxyflurane anesthesia. Urine is usually supersaturated in calcium oxalate, often in calcium phosphate, and acid urine is often saturated in uric acid. Yet crystalluria is uncommon (in warm, fresh urine) because of the normal presence of crystal inhibitors, the lack of available nidus, and the time factor. When properly observed in fresh urine, crystals may provide a clue to the composition of renal stones even not yet passed, the nidus for such stones, or, as such, have been associated with microhematuria.

Leukocyturia may indicate inflammatory disease in the genitourinary tract, including bacterial infection, glomerulonephritis, chemical injury, autoimmune diseases, or inflammatory disease adjacent to the urinary tract such as appendicitis1 or diverticulitis.

White cell casts indicate the renal origin of leukocytes, and are most frequently found in acute pyelonephritis. White cell casts are also found in glomerulonephritis such as lupus nephritis, and in acute and chronic interstitial nephritis. When nuclei degenerate, such leukocyte casts resemble renal tubular casts.

Red cell casts indicate renal origin of hematuria and suggest glomerulonephritis, including lupus nephritis. Red cell casts may also be found in subacute bacterial endocarditis, renal infarct, vasculitis, Goodpasture syndrome, sickle cell disease, and in malignant hypertension. Degenerated red cell casts may be called “hemoglobin casts.” Orange to red casts may be found with myoglobinuria as well.

Hyaline casts occur in physiologic states (eg, after exercise) and many types of renal diseases.

Renal tubular (epithelial) casts are most suggestive of tubular injury, as in acute tubular necrosis. They are also found in other disorders, including eclampsia, heavy metal poisoning, ethylene glycol intoxication, and acute allograft rejection.

Granular casts: Very finely granulated casts may be found after exercise and in a variety of glomerular and tubulointerstitial diseases. Coarse granular casts are abnormal and are present in a wide variety of renal diseases. “Dirty brown” granular casts are typical of acute tubular necrosis.

Waxy casts are found especially in chronic renal diseases, and are associated with chronic renal failure; they occur in diabetic nephropathy, malignant hypertension, and glomerulonephritis, among other conditions. They are named for their waxy or glossy appearance. They often appear brittle and cracked.

Fatty casts are found in the nephrotic syndromes generally, diabetic nephropathy, other forms of chronic renal diseases, and glomerulonephritis. The fat droplets originate in renal tubular cells when they exceed their capacity to reabsorb protein of glomerular origin. Their inclusions have the features and significance of oval fat bodies.

Broad casts originate from dilated, chronically damaged tubules or the collecting ducts. They can be granular or waxy. Broad waxy casts are called “renal failure casts.”

Sperm is not reported in routine urinalysis exams. Spermatozoa may be seen in male urine related to recent or retrograde ejaculation. For sperm reporting in males only, order Postejaculatory Urine Microscopic Examination for Sperm [133116].


Footnotes

1. Scott JH 3rd, Amin M, Harty JI. Abnormal urinalysis in appendicitis. J Urol. 1983 May; 129(5):1015. 6854742

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013060 Specific Gravity 5811-5
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013078 pH 5803-2
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013045 Urine-Color 5778-6
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013052 Appearance 5767-9
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013185 WBC Esterase 5799-2
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013094 Protein 20454-5
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013086 Glucose 25428-4
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013110 Ketones 2514-8
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013102 Occult Blood 5794-3
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013104 Bilirubin 5770-3
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013105 Urobilinogen,Semi-Qn mg/dL 20405-7
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 013106 Nitrite, Urine 5802-4
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 012237 Microscopic Examination 12235-8
003772 Urinalysis, Complete 24357-6 333336 Microscopic Examination 12235-8
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013128 WBC /hpf 5821-4
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013136 RBC /hpf 13945-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013148 Epithelial Cells (non renal) /hpf 5787-7
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013149 Epithelial Cells (renal) /hpf 26052-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013145 Casts /lpf 24124-0
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013147 Cast Type 58436-7
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013146 Crystals 5783-6
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013152 Crystal Type 5782-8
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333351 Mucus Threads 8247-9
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333344 Bacteria 5769-5
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333419 Yeast 5822-2
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013151 Trichomonas 5813-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333420 Comment 11279-7
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013128 WBC /hpf 5821-4
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013136 RBC /hpf 13945-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013148 Epithelial Cells (non renal) /hpf 5787-7
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013149 Epithelial Cells (renal) /hpf 26052-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013145 Casts /lpf 24124-0
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013147 Cast Type 58436-7
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013146 Crystals 5783-6
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013152 Crystal Type 5782-8
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333351 Mucus Threads 8247-9
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333344 Bacteria 5769-5
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333419 Yeast 5822-2
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 013151 Trichomonas 5813-1
Reflex Table for Microscopic Examination
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 333328 Microscopic Examination 333420 Comment 11279-7

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