Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHEMISTRY/MICROSCOPY CORRELATION
RED BLOOD CELL (RBC)/BLOOD
INTRODUCTION
Standard urinalysis testing usually includes three components: physical, chemical, and microscopic examination.
Diagnostic and therapeutic decisions should not be based on any single result or method.
The analytical output from urine chemistry and urine microscopy systems is not identical and should be used
together in a complementary manner. It is important to be aware of limitations or interferences that may
occur between methods. Possible reasons why blood chemistry results do not match RBCs in the microscopic
examination are identified below.
LAB FORWARD
MEMORY JOGGERS
PREANALYTICAL VARIABLES
All urine chemistry strips have limitations; refer to actual strip package insert for detailed limitations.
Specimen collection, specimen handling, specimen integrity, interfering substances and patient factors are
common causes of inaccurate test results. Some of the preanalytical variables documented in literature that
can contribute to false-positive and false-negative results for any strip are listed below.4
Possible False-positive Blood Chemistry Reactions2,3,4
Menstrual contamination
Bacterial peroxidases
Transparent cover with easy-to-use latch
Strong oxidizing agents (presence of chlorine bleach)
Preservatives (formalin) and cleaning agents such as hypochlorite
Possible False-negative Blood Chemistry Reactions2,3,4
Reducing agents such as ascorbic acid (level of interference varies according to the strip), uric acid,
glutathione and gentistic acid; pH 5
High nitrite can delay the reaction; MESNA
REFERENCES:
1. iChemVELOCITY Operators Manual; Iris Diagnostics.
2. Fundamentals of Urine and Body Fluid Analysis; Nancy Brunzel; Third Edition.
3. iChemVELOCITY package insert; Iris Diagnostics.
4. Becton Dickinson; Troubleshooting Preanalytical Variables In Urinalysis Testing; VS9012; 4/11.
www.beckmancoulter.com