TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of storage time and temperature on pH, specific gravity, and crystal formation in urine samples from dogs and cats
AU - Albasan, Hasan
AU - Lulich, Jody P.
AU - Osborne, Carl A.
AU - Lekcharoensuk, Chalermpol
AU - Ulrich, Lisa K.
AU - Carpenter, Kathleen A.
PY - 2003/1/15
Y1 - 2003/1/15
N2 - Objective - To determine effects of storage temperature and time on pH and specific gravity of and number and size of crystals in urine samples from dogs and cats. Design - Randomized complete block design. Animals - 31 dogs and 8 cats. Procedure - Aliquots of each urine sample were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection or after storage at room or refrigeration temperatures (20 vs 6°C [68 vs 43°F]) for 6 or 24 hours. Results - Crystals formed in samples from 11 of 39 (28%) animals. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 1 cat and 8 dogs. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 2 dogs. Compared with aliquots stored at room temperature, refrigeration increased the number and size of crystals that formed in vitro; however, the increase in number and size of MAP crystals in stored urine samples was not significant. Increased storage time and decreased storage temperature were associated with a significant increase in number of CaOx crystals formed. Greater numbers of crystals formed in urine aliquots stored for 24 hours than in aliquots stored for 6 hours. Storage time and temperature did not have a significant effect on pH or specific gravity. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Urine samples should be analyzed within 60 minutes of collection to minimize temperature- and time-dependent effects on in vitro crystal formation. Presence of crystals observed in stored samples should be validated by reevaluation of fresh urine.
AB - Objective - To determine effects of storage temperature and time on pH and specific gravity of and number and size of crystals in urine samples from dogs and cats. Design - Randomized complete block design. Animals - 31 dogs and 8 cats. Procedure - Aliquots of each urine sample were analyzed within 60 minutes of collection or after storage at room or refrigeration temperatures (20 vs 6°C [68 vs 43°F]) for 6 or 24 hours. Results - Crystals formed in samples from 11 of 39 (28%) animals. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 1 cat and 8 dogs. Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) crystals formed in vitro in samples from 2 dogs. Compared with aliquots stored at room temperature, refrigeration increased the number and size of crystals that formed in vitro; however, the increase in number and size of MAP crystals in stored urine samples was not significant. Increased storage time and decreased storage temperature were associated with a significant increase in number of CaOx crystals formed. Greater numbers of crystals formed in urine aliquots stored for 24 hours than in aliquots stored for 6 hours. Storage time and temperature did not have a significant effect on pH or specific gravity. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Urine samples should be analyzed within 60 minutes of collection to minimize temperature- and time-dependent effects on in vitro crystal formation. Presence of crystals observed in stored samples should be validated by reevaluation of fresh urine.
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U2 - 10.2460/javma.2003.222.176
DO - 10.2460/javma.2003.222.176
M3 - Article
C2 - 12555980
AN - SCOPUS:0037439242
SN - 0003-1488
VL - 222
SP - 176
EP - 179
JO - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
JF - Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
IS - 2
ER -