Types of Crystals in Urine – When checking the health condition, one of the most recommended tests is the urine test or checking the urine content in the laboratory. Only after the test results come out, reading the results of urine tests for the layman is certainly not an easy thing.
Read also: The functions of urine test.
For example, when the result of a person’s urine test state that in his urine found positive crystals and positive bacteria. What does that mean?
When found positive crystals and positive bacteria, no need to worry first. Because crystals are actually part of the urine, although it can also be a stone-forming element in the urinary tract. But the presence of crystals does not necessarily indicate the presence of urinary stones in one’s body.
Types of crystals in urine.
Crystals in the urine depend on the pH of urine being examined. In acidic urine can be found uric acid crystals. In neutral urine found calcium oxalate crystals. In alkaline urine may look calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate crystals. There are also a number of crystals that under normal circumstances do not exist; Include tyrosine crystals, cystine, cholesterol, and bilirubin.
Here are some urine sedimentary crystals commonly found in the urine sediment.
Triple Phosphate (Struvite).
Struvite crystals (magnesium ammonium phosphate, triple phosphate, Strucomp) usually looks colorless, 3-dimensional, orthorhombic, sometimes shiny with white and green bias, pyramid-like forms or prisms (corpses cover), often Also shows a polarizing color. Occasionally, this crystal resembles a double-eyed razor (part in the frame) and a slight birefringent.
Calcium Oxalat.
Calcium oxalate dihydrate crystal is generally visible in terms of the diagonal angle cut in it in a visible field of view (similar to the envelope). These crystals can be found on all pH. These crystals vary in size from the most large to the small, seen as having a blue refractive index on the inside when the observer rotates a microscope micrometer. In some cases, a large number of small oxalates may not be typical crystal-shaped, unless tested at high magnification.
If the laboratory analysis shows oxalate in the urine, this means that the level of oxalic acid exceeds in the body. In small quantities, oxalate does not appear and does not disturb a person. To check their availability and quantity, it is necessary to regularly take urine for testing. If a large amount of this type of salt is detected in urine analysis, then the Doctor is mainly interested in the nutrients of the patient.
In most cases, this pathology is caused by the use of certain products that contain excessively oxalic acid.
In the medical world, there are several types of oxalate in the urine, which are associated with the type of substance (often metals) that make up salt. Calcium, potassium, ammonium and sodium oxalate are distinguished. The crystals of calcium oxalate in the urine are accurate oxalaturia marks, which are caused by metabolic disorders or disease in the body.
Uric acid.
Uric acid hardened in the orthorombic system. Uric acid crystals can appear in several forms. The classical crystals are thin rhombic profiles and other forms are six-angled plates, needle and rosettes.
Calcium Phosphate.
Calcium phosphate crystals also named dicalcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite. Its mineral name is Brushite. A crystal shape is a long prism at the end may look sharper. This crystal is a little birefringent. Calcium phosphate crystals are found with the other triple phosphates and have the same clinical significance.
Ammonium urate crystals.
The Ammonium urate crystals (or biurate / ammonium acid urate / Ammonium biurate) are commonly seen as brown or brownish yellow in a spherical shape with irregular protrusion (amethyst). It can also be found in an apple-like form with a circular dark-colored layer.
Read also: 6 Causes of Mucus in Urine.
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