Struvite crystals are also known as.

Struvite crystals are also known as.

• A. Calcium oxalate crystals
• B. Amorphous phosphate crystals
• C. Calcium carbonate crystals
• D. Triple phosphate crystals

Answer: (D)

Struvite crystals, known as triple phosphate crystals, form in alkaline urine when bacteria that produce urease break down urea, raising the pH and causing magnesium ammonium phosphate to precipitate. This makes them the classic description for struvite: a compound of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate that appears as coffin-lid shaped crystals on a urine sediment exam. They commonly accompany urinary tract infections in veterinary patients, especially with urease-producing organisms. The other crystals differ in composition and appearance—calcium oxalate crystals have different shapes and form under other conditions, amorphous phosphate crystals are non-crystalline granules, and calcium carbonate crystals have distinct forms—so they are not the same as struvite.

Struvite crystals, known as triple phosphate crystals, form in alkaline urine when bacteria that produce urease break down urea, raising the pH and causing magnesium ammonium phosphate to precipitate. This makes them the classic description for struvite: a compound of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate that appears as coffin-lid shaped crystals on a urine sediment exam. They commonly accompany urinary tract infections in veterinary patients, especially with urease-producing organisms. The other crystals differ in composition and appearance—calcium oxalate crystals have different shapes and form under other conditions, amorphous phosphate crystals are non-crystalline granules, and calcium carbonate crystals have distinct forms—so they are not the same as struvite.