Table 3 summarizes crystals that may be observed in normal urine sediment.
Table 3. Normal Crystals by pH. Crystal | Image | Description |
Urine pH: Acidic |
Amorphous urate | | Dark or yellow-red granules |
Calcium oxalate | dihydrate monohydrate | Envelope (dihydrate form) Oval, dumbbell (monohydrate form) Calcium oxalate crystals can be found in both normal and abnormal urine and in a range of pH levels from acidic to neutral. |
Uric acid | | Various shapes - rhombus, hexagonal plates, rosettes, rectangles, irregular shapes Colorless to yellow or brown |
Urine pH: Alkaline |
Ammonium biurate | | Round with thorny projections Dark yellow to brown |
Amorphous phosphate | | Amorphous granules |
Calcium phosphate | | Flat rectangles, prisms, rosettes |
Triple phosphate | | Four to six-sided prisms resembling coffin lids |