Table 2 summarizes the characteristics of the cellular elements seen in urine.
Table 2. Characteristics of Cellular Elements.| Cell | Significance |
| Epithelial - Squamous | It must be differentiated from other cells. |
| Epithelial - Cuboidal or Renal Tubular | Increased numbers indicate tubular necrosis, which is significant in renal graft rejection. Viral or bacterial infections cause tubular damage. |
| Epithelial - Transitional or Caudate | It is not significant unless found in large numbers or is abnormal in appearance. |
| White Blood Cells (WBCs) | Bacterial infection. |
| Red Blood Cells (RBCs) | More than an occasional RBC can be significant. They are often associated with damage to the glomerular membrane or vascular injury within the genitourinary tract. |
| Ghost Cells | Alkaline urine causes RBCs to lyse; their empty membranes are called "ghost cells." Empty RBCs have the same significance as RBCs. |
| Yeast | They can be confused with RBCs unless they are budding. Yeast can be seen in diabetes mellitus or patients with vaginal candidiasis. |
| Bacteria | It may be a contaminant unless WBCs are present. |
