Which cell type is commonly found in urine sediment?

• A. Epithelial cells
• B. Red blood cells
• C. White blood cells
• D. Bacteria

Answer: (A)

Urine sediment analysis looks for cells shed from the lining of the urinary tract. Epithelial cells are a normal and common finding because the urothelium continually sloughs off into the urine. You’ll see different epithelial cell types, with squamous cells often coming from the lower tract or vagina and smaller numbers of transitional or renal tubular cells in other contexts. In healthy samples, a few epithelial cells are typical; larger numbers can suggest sample contamination or irritation of the urinary tract. Red blood cells and white blood cells appear when there’s bleeding or inflammation, respectively, while bacteria indicate infection but are not host cells. So, the cell type most routinely found in urine sediment is epithelial cells.