Lab Med Qual Assur.  2022 Mar;44(1):29-35. 10.15263/jlmqa.2022.44.1.29.

Analysis of Clinical Utility of Urine Sediments

• Lee AJ
• Kim SG
• Jeon CH

• KMID: 2527802
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15263/jlmqa.2022.44.1.29

Abstract

Background
In this study, after reporting the urine sediment, the clinical utility of the results was analyzed to broaden the clinical usefulness of urine sediment.
Methods
This study included 114 patients with renal impairment who tested positive for pathological urine sediment at the Catholic Medical Center in Daegu from January 2020 to November 2020. Urine test strips and urine sediment tests were performed, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were measured. The patient’s clinical diagnosis was confirmed by examining medical records, and the clinical usefulness of the pathological urine sediment was analyzed.
Results
Albumin, red blood cells (RBCs), RBC cast, and broad cast showed a positive rate of 92% or more on urinalysis. In patients with a normal eGFR, albumin, RBC cast, RBC, and broad cast showed a positive rate of 8.8% or more. Broad cast, albumin, RBC cast, and ketone levels were significantly correlated with eGFR. A total of 72.6% of broad casts were found in patients with acute renal disease. The eGFR decreased in 27.8% of the 18 patients with acute kidney injury, and abnormal findings in these patients’ the urine stick and sediment preceded the eGFR results.
Conclusions
The microscopic urine sediment test showed better results than the urine stick test for detecting leukocytes, and 9.6% of patients with normal eGFR were found to be positive. Because urine sediment tests can detect various pathological sediments, it is necessary to activate the urine sediment test.

Keyword

Urine; Sediment; Urinalysis; Microscopy