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Articles |
Departments of
1
Clinical Chemistry and
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Urology, University Hospital Gent, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
a Author for correspondence. Fax 32-9-2404985; e-mail joris.delanghe{at}rug.ac.be.
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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The analytical performance and the accuracy of the UF-100 analyzer have been evaluated in detail by comparison with manual microscopy (12). The UF-100 generally performs accurate and precise quantitative urinalysis; however, detection of casts with the UF-100 was found to be less reliable than the detection of cellular elements (12).
The feasibility of a flow cytometer-based "sediment sieve" for selecting samples that require microscopic examination remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the possibility of improving urine screening by comparing UF-100 data with those of an automated strip-reader. For this purpose, a cross-check of UF-100 data with results obtained by dipstick testing and microscopic sediment urinalysis was performed. Preanalytical and analytical factors such as urine concentration, sample storage, and use of evacuated sample containers were incorporated in the study.
| Materials and Methods |
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sysmex uf-100
The Sysmex UF-100 (TOA Medical Electronics Co.) uses argon laser
flow cytometry. The UF-100 aspirates 800 µL of uncentrifuged urine,
dilutes the sample four times to dissolve the crystalline content,
measures the urine conductivity, and analyzes the urinary formed
elements by electrical impedance for volume, by forward light scatter
for size, and by fluorescent dyes for DNA (phenanthridine) and
membranes (carbocyanine). The pulse intensity and width of the forward
scattered light and fluorescence light are measured. From these data,
together with the impedance data, the urinary formed elements are
categorized by multiparametric algorithms on the basis of their size,
shape, volume, and staining characteristics. The results are displayed
in scattergrams, histograms, and in counts per microliter as well as
counts per high-power field
(HPF).1
dipstick urinalysis
Dipstick urinalysis was carried out before flow cytometry
analysis, using Combur 10-Test M strips and a Miditron automated
reflectance photometer (Boehringer Mannheim) (13). The
strips included reagent pads for semiquantitative assessment of
relative density, pH, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, protein, glucose,
ketones, urobilinogen, bilirubin, and hemoglobin/myoglobin.
microscopic urinalysis
The manual microscopic sediment examination was performed
according to the NCCLS guideline (14). After urinalysis with
the UF-100, each urine specimen (10 mL) was centrifuged at
400g for 5 min, and 9.5 mL of the supernatant was removed.
In each specimen, at least 20 random microscopic fields were
examined at x40 (HPF), and the mean number of cells or particles/HPF
were calculated. Urinary casts were observed at x10 [low-power field
(LPF)]. To reduce interobserver variability, all sediments were
evaluated by the same experienced technologist.
classification of results
UF-100 and dipstick test results for erythrocytes (RBCs) and
leukocytes (WBCs) were cross-checked and evaluated by manual
microscopy. Results were classified into groups I (positive for all
three test systems), II (positive for UF-100; negative for dipstick and
microscopy), III (negative for UF-100; positive for dipstick and
microscopy), or IV (negative for all three systems) considering the
cutoff value defined by the manufacturer (25 cells/µL or 5
cells/HPF). Cases of discrepant dipstick and microscopic analysis were
classified into groups Va (positive for UF-100 and microscopy; negative
for dipstick) and Vb (negative for UF-100 and microscopy; positive for
dipstick). Concordant UF-100 and dipstick results with a different
microscopy result were classified into groups VIa (positive for UF-100
and dipstick; negative for microscopy) and VIb (negative for UF-100 and
dipstick; positive for microscopy).
statistics
Data are presented as median and interquartile range.
Statistical differences were evaluated using the Wilcoxon test.
Agreement between automated cell counts and semiquantitative dipstick
data was examined by Spearman rank analysis. P <0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
| Results |
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The conductivity measured by the UF-100 correlated with the relative
density of the urine (Spearman r = 0.541; P
<0.001). Among samples with low urine conductivity (<5 mS/cm; n
= 15), there were only two group III cases and three group Vb cases
(underestimation of RBC count because of lysis of RBCs). The UF-100
identifies lysed RBCs (ghost cells), which appear in the area of low
forward light scatter in the RBC scattergram cluster. Even in nine
urine specimens with alkaline pH (pH
8; classified in group VIa),
UF-100 and dipstick RBC data were comparable, whereas lysed RBCs were
not identified by manual microscopy.
To investigate the effect of vacuum sampling, UF-100 RBC counts in five urine specimens from patients with hematuria were compared between conventional and vacuum test tubes. In two urine samples with normal conductivity (13 and 16 mS/cm), the UF-100 RBC count and the percentage of nonlysed RBCs were comparable between the two sampling methods. In contrast, the UF-100 RBC count and the percentage of nonlysed RBCs in three urine specimens with low conductivity (<5 mS/cm) were lower in vacuum tubes than in conventional tubes (at least 20% and 31% reduction, respectively), whereas hemoglobin dipstick reactions were comparable.
leukocytes and bacteria
A good agreement was obtained between the UF-100 WBC count and the
leukocyte esterase test strip reaction (Spearman r =
0.785; P <0.001; Fig. 1B
). Discrepancies between the
automated WBC count and leukocyte esterase were observed as well, and
included 48 group II cases (4.8%) and only 2 group III cases (Table 1
). Group Va cases (n = 2) were associated with severe proteinuria
(dipstick protein, 5.0 g/L). Among group VIa cases, we found three
urine specimens with alkaline pH (pH
8) and two samples with low
conductivity (<5 mS/cm).
The UF-100 bacterial count differed significantly (P
<0.0001) between nitrite-negative (median, 199 bacteria/µL;
interquartile range, 92458 bacteria/µL; n = 875) and
nitrite-positive urine samples (median, 956 bacteria/µL;
interquartile range, 417-2366 bacteria/µL; n = 126). Among
nitrite-positive samples, there were 18 cases with bacterial counts
below the cutoff value defined by the manufacturer (250 bacteria/µL).
The UF-100 bacterial count correlated well with the UF-100 WBC count
(Spearman r = 0.745; P <0.001; Fig. 2
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Effects of urine storage in vitro were investigated in 10 urine samples containing 87 bacteria/µL (interquartile range, 57183 bacteria/µL) and 21 WBC/µL (interquartile range, 1827 WBC/µL). Storage of these samples during 24 h at room temperature produced an increased UF-100 bacterial count (median, 491 bacteria/µL; interquartile range, 306872 bacteria/µL; P <0.01). The UF-100 WBC count did not change significantly (median, 19 WBC/µL; interquartile range, 1425 WBC/µL after 24 h); however, the mean forward scattered-light channel of the WBC histogram was reduced from 87.0 (range, 80.1102.3) to 64.5 (interquartile range, 58.276.1) after 24 h (P <0.01).
casts
The UF-100 discriminates between hyaline casts (without
inclusions) and pathological casts (containing granular, cellular, or
other inclusions that generate a fluorescence signal). No significant
agreement was obtained between UF-100 cast and dipstick protein data.
Microscopic sediment examination demonstrated the presence of casts in
73 urine samples, including 38 samples with hyaline casts (
1
cast/LPF), 20 samples with pathological casts (
1 cast/LPF), and 15
samples containing both types of casts. Among these samples, only 32
UF-100 hyaline cast counts and 14 UF-100 pathological cast counts were
above the manufacturer-defined cutoff value (1 cast/µL).
False-negative UF-100 pathological cast counts (<1 cast/µL;
1
cast/LPF) were found in 21 urine samples. Among these false-negative
counts, dipstick protein reactions were reported as negative (n =
1) or as 0.25 g/L (n = 2), 0.75 g/L (n = 6), 1.5 g/L (n
= 7), and 5.0 g/L (n = 5).
In a large number of cases, UF-100 hyaline cast counts (n = 123; 12.3%) and pathological cast counts (n = 81; 8.1%) were >1 cast/µL, whereas microscopy detected <1 cast/LPF. Among the false-positive UF-100 pathological casts, we found urine samples with high WBC counts (>250 cells/µL; n = 63), high crystalline content (n = 2), mucous threads (n = 4), Trichomonas organisms (n = 3), and three samples from pancreaticocystostomy patients (with extremely high numbers of urothelial cells because of bladder irritation by proteolytic pancreatic enzymes) (15).
The effect of vacuum sampling on UF-100 cast counts was studied in urine specimens from three patients with glomerulonephritis. Hyaline and pathological cast counts measured in vacuum test tubes showed a marked reduction (at least 58% and 51%, respectively) compared with conventional tubes. Remarkably, UF-100 RBC counts in these urine specimens were higher in vacuum tubes than in conventional tubes (at least a 25% increase).
other formed elements
The UF-100 was also compared with manual microscopy for squamous
epithelial cells, spermatozoa, and yeast cells. The UF-100 performed
well on epithelial cells and spermatozoa, showing only eight falsely
increased epithelial cell counts (defined as >25 cells/µL and <5
cells/HPF; includes two urine samples with Trichomonas
organisms), one false-positive sperm count (159 cells/µL and 0
cells/HPF) in a sample with mucous threads, and no false negatives.
The UF-100 yeast cell count showed more discrepancies (6.9%). In 59 cases, UF-100 yeast cell counts were above the manufacturer-defined cutoff value (10 cells/µL), whereas <2 cells/HPF were detected microscopically. Among these cases, we found one sample that contained Trichomonas organisms and two samples that contained oval fat bodies; however, the majority was associated with the presence of high WBC counts (>250 cells/µL; n = 48). In 10 urine samples, UF-100 yeast cell counts were <10 cells/µL, whereas >2 cells/HPF were detected by microscopy. Among these false negatives, we found five cases of falsely increased (group II) UF-100 RBC counts.
Other formed elements, such as oval fat bodies (n = 23) and Trichomonas organisms (n = 4), cannot be detected by the UF-100 instrument. Oval fat bodies were observed in the sediment from two urine samples with negative dipstick protein reaction; other protein test results were 0.25 g/L (n = 2), 0.75 g/L (n = 4), 1.5 g/L (n = 6), and 5.0 g/L (n = 9).
| Discussion |
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In a few cases, the UF-100 analyzer detected more RBCs and WBCs than did dipstick testing. Microscopic sediment analysis suggested that the majority of these cases involved overestimation by the UF-100 instrument. However, comparison with manual microscopy, the gold standard, is difficult because the latter technique has several methodological steps that may contribute to imprecision and inaccuracy (1), including centrifugation and resuspension steps that are either incomplete or lead to cellular loss and lysis.
The correlation between UF-100 bacterial counts and UF-100 WBC counts is of interest. The simultaneous analysis of these indicators allows the detection of preanalytical errors and hence better discrimination between urinary tract infection and growth of commensal bacteria. The increase in the bacterial count during sample storage is accompanied by a marked decrease of the WBC forward light scatter, whereas the UF-100 WBC count remains stable. The low WBC forward scatter can be explained by cell volume changes and suggests the presence of dead or aged leukocytes in urine stored for a long period of time after collection. However, these changes can also occur in vivo during a prolonged stay of WBCs in the bladder (19).
Vacuum urine sampling affects UF-100 test results for RBCs (only in urine with low conductivity) and casts, probably because of mechanical damage to these elements during aspiration. Disintegration of pathological casts during vacuum sampling causes a release of their cellular inclusions, as evidenced by increased UF-100 RBC counts.
The detection of urinary casts by the UF-100 is less definitive than is the detection of RBCs and WBCs. Similar findings have been reported by Ben-Ezra et al. (12). Comparison with manual microscopy demonstrated a high number of false-positive UF-100 cast counts. It is apparent that the UF-100 detects other formed elements as casts. We therefore recommend a manual review of those samples in which pathological numbers of urinary casts are found by the UF-100. However, some of these cases probably represent true detection of casts not identified by manual microscopy, which may occur in urine sediments with very large quantities of leukocytes.
In addition, the flow cytometric detection of yeasts is not always definitive. In several cases, the instrument had problems differentiating RBCs and yeast cells. This can be explained by a positive interference caused by yeast cells overlapping the RBC area of the scattergram. Dipstick testing (hemoglobin) may prove to be very useful in these cases.
Different mistakes were often found within the same sample. When we combined all cross-checked results of clinically relevant urinary formed elements, we calculated that 28% of the urine samples were not analyzed correctly by the UF-100 instrument (errors that may lead to an incorrect clinical interpretation of urinalysis). The low number of false negatives (4%) suggests that the UF-100 is suitable for use as a screening tool, but the number of false positives should be reduced by manual review (light microscopy). Therefore, criteria how to use the UF-100 as a sediment sieve are needed.
The use of UF-100-based decision rules could reduce the error rate of the instrument by manual review. In particular, positive UF-100 casts and yeast cells always require microscopic evaluation. An additional reduction of the error rate could be achieved by cross-checks of the UF-100 and dipstick data (RBCs vs hemoglobin, WBCs vs leukocyte esterase, casts vs protein, bacteria vs nitrite). Consequently, cross-checks of UF-100 and dipstick data could reduce the manual review rate. For example, high RBC and WBC counts raise flags on the UF-100 screen to review the specimen under a microscope. However, when UF-100 RBC and WBC data are concordant with dipstick hemoglobin and leukocyte esterase reactions, there would be no need for additional microscopic confirmation. For optimal use, we suggest that computer-assisted decision making is the optimal solution for sieving the urine samples.
Oval fat bodies and Trichomonas organisms cannot be detected by the UF-100 instrument and theoretically would be missed in such a sieving system. However, Trichomonas organisms were found in some samples with false-positive UF-100 casts (which cause review flags to appear on the screen) and would be detected by microscopic review of these samples.
In conclusion, dipstick testing combined with a computer-assisted UF-100 sieving system may lead to a clinically acceptable urinalysis system. The UF-100 analyzer is not a substitute for microscopic sediment examination; however, (when combined with dipstick testing) it can improve the productivity of urinalysis by reducing the numbers of specimens submitted to microscopy.
| Acknowledgments |
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| Footnotes |
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| References |
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The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:
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C. Ottiger and A. R. Huber Quantitative Urine Particle Analysis: Integrative Approach for the Optimal Combination of Automation with UF-100 and Microscopic Review with KOVA Cell Chamber Clin. Chem., April 1, 2003; 49(4): 617 - 623. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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Z. Zaman, S. Roggeman, and J. Verhaegen Unsatisfactory Performance of Flow Cytometer UF-100 and Urine Strips in Predicting Outcome of Urine Cultures J. Clin. Microbiol., November 1, 2001; 39(11): 4169 - 4171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Alvarez-Barrientos, J. Arroyo, R. Canton, C. Nombela, and M. Sanchez-Perez Applications of Flow Cytometry to Clinical Microbiology Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2000; 13(2): 167 - 195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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