Which statement is true about a formed element that may be found in normal alkaline urine?

• A. May be found in normal alkaline urine
• B. Associated with renal pathology
• C. Characteristic of glomerulonephritis
• D. Associated with lung pathology

Answer: (A)

In urine sediment, not every formed element means disease; the presence of some elements can be a normal or incidental finding depending on the urine’s chemistry, such as its pH. The statement that a formed element may be found in normal alkaline urine is true because alkaline conditions can allow certain nonpathologic elements to appear without indicating renal or systemic disease. This means you shouldn’t automatically assume pathology based on seeing that element if the patient has no related symptoms and the finding is limited in number. The other statements imply disease associations (renal pathology, glomerulonephritis, or lung pathology) that aren’t required for this element to be present in normal alkaline urine.