canis - Articles
Urinalysis: epithelial cells
Overview
- To detect epithelial cells in urine and determine their origin.
- Renal tubular, bladder and/or urethral epithelial cells may be present.
- Degeneration or necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells arrow: epithelial cells in urine.
- Abnormal epithelial cells may be seen with neoplasia.
Uses
Alone
- Transitional cell carcinoma Bladder: neoplasia.
Cytologic evaluation using other types of preparations and stains recommended for most accurate detection of malignant cells.
In combination
- Serum urea Blood biochemistry: urea and serum creatinine Blood biochemistry: creatinine to detect acute renal failure.
- Ultrasonography Ultrasonography: bladder and urinary tract Ultrasonography: kidney /radiology Radiography: abdomen / cytology to diagnose transitional cell carcinoma or rhabdomyosarcoma (young dogs).
Sampling
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Tests
Methodologies
- Decant supernatant.
Either Add 1 drop of sedistain or a supravital stain such as Sternheimer-Malbin to the sediment.Do not use a cytological stain for standard urinalysis.
Or Leave 0.5 ml urine in centrifuge tube. - Resuspend sediment by vigorously tapping the centrifuge tube.
- Transfer one drop of sediment to a microscope slide (via a pipette) and place a coverslip over it.
- Lower the condenser on microscope to improve contrast.
- Systematically examine entire specimen under the lower power objective, assessing quantity and type of sediment.
- Examine sediment under the high power objective to identify morphology of elements and to detect bacteria.
- For cytology a spun sediment sample may be stained with a Romanovsky or other stain, depending on preference of cytologist and availability.
Availability
- All veterinary practices.
- External laboratories.
Technician extrinsic limitations
- Following the same approach for every analysis results in consistent findings and allows the technician to develop experience.
Result Data
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from VetMedResource and PubMed.
- Batamuzi E K & Kristensen F (1995) Diagnostic importance of urothelial cells of the dog and cat. JSAP 36 (1), 17-21.
- Brobst D (1989) Urinalysis and associated laboratory procedures. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 19 (5), 929-949.
- McCaw D L, Fleming E J & Mikiciuk M G (1989) Interpreting the results of urinalysis - a key to diagnosing renal disorders. Vet Med 84 (3), 281-286.
Other sources of information
- Kaneko J J (1997) Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals. 5th edn. Eds: Harvey J W & Bruss M L. Academic Press, USA.
- Duncan J R, Prasse K W & Mahaffy E A (1994) Veterinary Laboratory Medicine Clinical Pathology. 3rd edn. Iowa University Press, USA.