Table: Normal Crystals

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Table: Normal Crystals

The table below summarizes crystals that may be observed in normal urine sediment.
Crystal
Image
Description
Urine pH = Acidic
Amorphous urates
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 that they can be found in a range of urine pH 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