What does urine microscopy examine?
Urinalysis under microscopy refers to the examination of urine under high magnification to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, presence of urinary ketones, glucose, protein, and urine specific gravity.
Urinalysis by microscopy is an auxiliary diagnostic method used to assess whether urine is normal. Typically, when visiting a hospital for evaluation, urinalysis may be required, which often involves using a tubular instrument to examine the internal condition—most commonly performed with a cystoscope inserted gradually through the external urethral orifice into the bladder. Cystourethroscopy allows visualization of the urethral mucosa for signs of inflammation, edema, or other pathological changes, as well as detection of any new growths or lesions. Normally, the count of red blood cells ranges from 0 to 3 per high-power field; more than 3 red blood cells indicates microscopic hematuria. A white blood cell count exceeding 5 suggests a urinary tract infection. Urine testing can frequently reveal whether a patient has a urinary tract infection, microscopic hematuria, or other kidney diseases. It is recommended that patients receive timely symptomatic treatment after undergoing urethroscopic examination to help stabilize their condition.
Prior to performing microscopic urinalysis, the external genital area should be thoroughly disinfected to prevent retrograde infection caused by endoscopic procedures. After the examination, patients should drink plenty of water and urinate frequently to reduce the risk of infection.