Cite this page: Pernick N. Urates / uric acid. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsurates.html. Accessed March 19th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Uric acid crystals seen in acid urine
- Urates present in tissue as sodium urate, but soluble in aqueous solutions and slightly soluble in weak alcoholic solutions, so tissue must be fixed in 95%/100% alcohol to prevent leaching of urates
- Urates are stained black by GMS
- Sodium urate crystals are birefringent on polarization