Urinalysis

[JMM]

I hope I say this right...casts are cells from inside the tubules of the kidneys. Depending on the type, they can be normal or indicate a problem (in Mikey's case early kidney disease).

[k9Karen]

Urinary casts occur when protein precipitates (sort-of solidifies or comes out of solution) in the renal tubules. When this happens, they can trap whatever is also there - usually cells. Here's a link with a lot of info on what you can find in a urine sample, including the different kinds of casts.

http://www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/mbiology/ug/ ... i/lab.html