Stains & CD markers
Urates / uric acid


Last author update: 1 June 2005
Last staff update: 12 August 2021

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Nat Pernick, M.D.
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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
Microscopic (histologic) images

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Uric acid crystals, polarized, with red plate

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