A cytology exam of urine is a test used to detect cancer and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.
Alternative NamesUrine cytology
How the test is performedA clean catch (midstream) urine sample is needed. For information on how to obtain the sample, see clean catch urine specimen.
The urine sample can also be collected during an examination of the inside of your bladder called cystoscopy.
The urine sample is processed in a laboratory and examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
How to prepare for the testNo special preparation is needed.
How the test will feelThere is no discomfort with a clean catch urine specimen.
Why the test is performedThe test is done to detect cancer of the urinary tract. It is often done when blood is seen in the urine.
It is also useful for monitoring patients who have a history of urinary tract cancer. The test may sometimes be ordered for people who are at high risk for bladder cancer.
This test can also detect cytomegalovirus and other viral diseases.
Normal ValuesThe urine shows normal cells and is free of debris.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal cells in the urine may be a sign of inflammation of the urinary tract or cancer of the kidney, ureters, bladder, or urethra.
Special considerationsCancer or inflammatory disease cannot be diagnosed with this test alone. The results need to be confirmed with other tests or procedures.
A technique called fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to test the genetic material in cells shed in the urine to better detect cancers.
ReferencesBajorin DJ. Tumors of the kidney, bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 203.
Gerber GS, Brendler CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: History, physical examination, and urinalysis. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 3.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/16/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A cytology exam of urine is used to detect cancer and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.
Alternative NamesUrine cytology
How the test is performedA clean catch (midstream) urine sample is needed. For information on how to obtain the sample, see clean catch urine specimen.
The urine sample can also be collected during an examination of the inside of your bladder called cystoscopy.
The urine sample is processed in a laboratory and examined under a microscope by a pathologist who looks for abnormal cells.
How to prepare for the testNo special preparation is needed.
How the test will feelThere is no discomfort associated with a clean catch urine specimen.
Why the test is performedThe test is done to detect cancer and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. The test is often done when blood is detected in the urine. It is also useful for monitoring a patient with a history of cancer of the urinary tract. The test may occasionally be ordered for individuals who are at high risk of developing bladder cancer.
The test can also detect cytomegalovirus and other viral diseases.
Normal ValuesThe urine shows normal cells and is relatively free of debris.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal cells in the urine may be a sign of inflammation of the urinary tract or cancer of the kidney, ureters, bladder, or urethra.
Special considerationsThe diagnosis of cancer or inflammatory disease cannot be made exclusively by this test. The results are confirmed by other diagnostic tests or procedures. A technique called fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to evaluate the genetic material in the cells shed in the urine to better detect cancers.
ReferencesBajorin DJ. Tumors of the kidney, bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 207.
Gerber GS, Brendler CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: History, physical examination, and the urinalysis. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 3.
The three basic parts of a typical urine examination are physical examination (color, clarity, odor), chemical examination (testing for specific compounds like glucose, protein, and ketones), and microscopic examination (analyzing urine sediments for cells, crystals, and other particles).
The presence of calcium in elastic fibers, as revealed by microscopic examination of biopsied skin, unequivocally establishes the diagnosis of PXE.
Pus cells, also known as neutrophils, are white blood cells that indicate the presence of infection or inflammation in the urinary tract when found in urine. In a routine urine examination, the presence of pus cells may suggest a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, or some other underlying condition that requires further evaluation and treatment.
It is a biopsy
Urine must be centrifuged before microscopic examination to separate any cells, bacteria, and other solid components from the liquid portion, or supernatant. This allows for a clearer view of the cells and other elements present in the urine sample under a microscope, making it easier to detect abnormalities or infections.
Urine Full Examination & Microscopic Examination
Using a standardized Urinalysis System
urinalysis: or UA is a physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine.
Microscopic examination of bone marrow can reveal leukemia, granulomas, myelofibrosis, myeloma, lymphoma, or metastatic cancers, bone marrow infection, and bone disease.
The three basic parts of a typical urine examination are physical examination (color, clarity, odor), chemical examination (testing for specific compounds like glucose, protein, and ketones), and microscopic examination (analyzing urine sediments for cells, crystals, and other particles).
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The presence of calcium in elastic fibers, as revealed by microscopic examination of biopsied skin, unequivocally establishes the diagnosis of PXE.
A normal urinalysis typically includes clear urine with a pale yellow color, a specific gravity within a normal range, no presence of blood, protein, glucose, or ketones, and a pH level around 4.5 to 8.0. It also usually has no bacteria, crystals, or abnormal cells present.
Gross examination is performed without the aid of magnification. Microscopic examination is performed on slides of tissue samples on the microscope.
Urine R and M stands for Urine Routine and Microscopic examination. It is a laboratory test that involves chemical, physical, and microscopic analysis of a urine sample to check for various substances such as proteins, glucose, red and white blood cells, and bacteria. This test is commonly used to diagnose urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and other urinary system-related conditions.
The microscopic, functional unit of the kidney and the site of urine-production is the Nephron.
Three parts of a routine urinalysis include physical examination (color, clarity, odor), chemical examination (pH, protein, glucose), and microscopic examination (red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria).