What does amorphous phosphate crystals in urine mean?
The presence of amorphous crystals is generally of little clinical significance. Their formation is caused by a combination of factors, including decreased urine volume combined with changes in urine pH and often the presence of large quantities of uric acid (meat consumption), or calcium (dairy products) in the diet.
How would you differentiate amorphous urates and amorphous phosphate by looking at their chemical results Why?
Amorphous phosphates are distinguished from amorphous urates in two ways: phosphates are colorless and precipitate in alkaline urine; while urates are yellow-brown to black and precipitate in acidic urine.
How do you get rid of amorphous urates in urine?
Conclusion: The protocol to eliminate amorphous urate crystals is to prewarm the specimen before testing. Adding 50 mM NaOH to sediment dissolves amorphous urates to enhance the visibility of bacteria and yeast but has a deleterious effect on WBC and RBC.
How do you treat urates in urine?
The primary treatments are to alkalinize (citrate or bicarbonate) and dilute (large water intake) the urine. Sodium urate is 15 times more soluble than uric acid. At a urine pH level of 6.8, 10 times as much sodium urate as uric acid is present.
How can you tell the difference between amorphous and amorphous phosphates?
The key difference between amorphous urate and phosphate is that amorphous urate appears as dark or yellow-red granules whereas amorphous phosphate appears as colourless or white colour.
What are normal phosphates?
Adult: 3.0-4.5 mg/dL or 0.97-1.45 mmol/L (SI units) Elderly: values slightly lower than adult. Child: 4.5-6.5 mg/dL or 1.45-2.1 mmol/L (SI units)
Are phosphate and phosphorus the same?
Phosphorus is a multi-valent nonmetal chemical element of the VA group. Phosphate is a chemical derivative of the phosphoric acid, containing the phosphate ion (PO3−4). Formally, any salt of a phosphorus oxoacid is a phosphate.
What is the difference between amorphous urine and phosphate?
The key difference between amorphous urate and phosphate is that amorphous urate appears as dark or yellow-red granules whereas amorphous phosphate appears as colourless or white colour. Amorphous urate and amorphous phosphate are important terms that are discussed regarding the composition of urine.
What causes amorphous urates in urine?
They form in the urine if the urine pH is too acidic or basic, the concentration of dissolved substances is high, or the urine temperature leads to their formation. Besides amorphous urates, other crystals may be found in a healthy person’s urine, including crystalline uric acid, calcium oxalates, amorphous phosphates and calcium carbonate.
What does amorphous urates look like?
Amorphous Urates • Yellow-brown color • Found in acidic urine with pH > 5.7 • Forms pink precipitate upon refrigeration (uroerythrin accumulates on surface of crystal) – “brick-dust” • Precipitate redissolves when warmed or alkali added Amorphous urates X400 MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE URINE: CRYSTALS ©University of Cincinnati MLS Program3
What is the precipitate of phosphate and urate?
Phosphate is seen in alkaline pH. Urate is seen in acidic pH. The precipitate of phosphate is white. The precipitate of amorphous urate is pink (known as brick dust). Amorphous phosphate is soluble in acetic acid. Amorphous urates are insoluble in acetic acid (by acidification it converts to uric acid)