Physical, chemical and morphological urine examination: proposed guidelines for the analytical phase by the Intersociety Urinalysis Group

With these guidelines, the Intersociety Urinalysis Group (GIAU) aims to stimulate the following aspects: a) improvement and standardization of the analytical approach to physical, chemical and morphological urine examination (ECMU); b) to emphasize the value added to ECMU by automated analyzers for the study of the morphology of the corpuscular fraction urine; c) improvement of the chemical analysis of urine with particular regard to the reconsideration of the diagnostic significance of parameters that are traditionally evaluated in dipstick analysis, together with an increasing awareness of the limits of sensitivity and specificity of this analytical method; d) to increase the awareness of the importance of professional skills in the field of urinary morphology and of the relationships with clinicians; e) implementation of a policy for the evaluation of the analytical quality by using, in addition to traditional IQC and EQA, a program for the evaluation of morphological competence; f) to stimulate the diagnostic industry to focus research efforts and development methodology and instrumental catering to the needs of clinical diagnosis. The hope is to revalue the enormous diagnostic potential of ECMU, by implementing an urinalysis based on personalized diagnostic needs.