Page 41 - Clinical Biochemistry 08PB804

2) Cells:
Red blood cells
• Red blood cells (RBCs): up to 3/HPF are commonly accepted as normal.
• Increased RBC in urine is termed hematuria, which can be due to hemorrhage,
inflammation, necrosis, trauma or neoplasia somewhere along the urinary tract.
White blood cells
• White Blood Cells (WBCs): up to 5/HPF are commonly accepted as normal.
• Greater numbers (pyuria) generally indicate the presence of an inflammatory process
somewhere along the course of the urinary tract.
• Pyuria often is caused by urinary tract infections, and often significant bacteria can be
seen on sediment preparations, indicating a need for bacterial culture.

Figure 10: WBCs in urine

Squamous epithelaial cells
 Squamous epithelial cells are the largest cells seen in normal urine specimens.
 Squamous cells generally represent contamination from the genital tract.
 There are three types of epithelial cells that can show up in urine.
• Squamous epithelial cells (urinary tract).
• Transitional epithelial cells (uterus and bladder).
• Renal epithelial cells (kidneys).