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

Exercise 20

A squamous epithelial cell covered with coccobacilli that extends beyond the cytoplasm margin is a:

A. Basal cell

B. Parabasal cell

C. Clue cell

d. Blastospore

Step 1 of 2

Clue cell:

Clue cell is an abnormal squamous epithelial cell.

• Coccobacillus bacteria attaches to the clue cell surface in clusters, spreads to the edges of the cell, that makes the cell border stippled

• This causes irregular, granular appearance of cell termed as shaggy

• Clue cells are helpful to diagnose bacterial vaginosis

• Clue cells can also appear in urine sediment

Therefore, squamous epithelial cell covered with coccobacilli, which extends beyond the margin of cytoplasm, is “clue cell”. Hence, the correct answer is option.