Which instrument is used to prepare urine for microscopic examination?

Which instrument is used to prepare urine for microscopic examination?

• A. Microscope
• B. Pipette
• C. Centrifuge
• D. Cuvette

Answer: (C)

The essential step in preparing urine for microscopic examination is concentrating the sediment so the elements are detectable under the microscope. This is done with a centrifuge, which spins the urine at high speed to push the solid particles—cells, crystals, bacteria, and other formed elements—down into a sediment or pellet. After spinning, most of the supernatant liquid is removed, and the remaining sediment is examined on a slide under the microscope. The centrifuge is the instrument that enables this concentration; a microscope is for viewing, a pipette is for transferring small volumes, and a cuvette is for holding samples in spectrophotometry.

The essential step in preparing urine for microscopic examination is concentrating the sediment so the elements are detectable under the microscope. This is done with a centrifuge, which spins the urine at high speed to push the solid particles—cells, crystals, bacteria, and other formed elements—down into a sediment or pellet. After spinning, most of the supernatant liquid is removed, and the remaining sediment is examined on a slide under the microscope. The centrifuge is the instrument that enables this concentration; a microscope is for viewing, a pipette is for transferring small volumes, and a cuvette is for holding samples in spectrophotometry.