Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 42

Leukocytes that stain pale blue with Sternheimer-Malbin stain and exhibit brownian movement are:

A. Indicative of pyelonephritis

B. Basophils

C. Mononuclear leukocytes

D. Glitter cells

Step 1 of 2

White blood cells in urine sediment:

Neutrophils are found predominant in WBC in urine sediment.

• WBCs are larger comparing to RBCs with diameter of 12 mm (millimeter).

• Neutrophils when exposed to hypotonic urine will absorb water then swells.

• The granules present in these larger cells exhibit brownian movement and produce glittering appearance which is called glitter cells.

Brownian movement:

o Suspended particles in fluid produce random motion which results in collision with the liquids atom or molecule.

• These large cells when stained with Sternheimer-Malbin stain, stains with light blue.

Therefore, leukocytes exhibiting brownian movement and stains pale blue with Sternheimer-Malbin stain are “glitter cell”. Hence, the correct answer is option.