SP186URINE MICROSCOPY: DEVELPOMENT OF AN APPLICATION FOR MOBILE DEVICES AS A LEARNING AID

Abstract

Introduction and Aims: Microscopy of urine sediment is a valuable tool to help differentiate between various causes of renal injury. The procedure is easily performed at a low cost, but demands some experience to identify various particles in the urine sediment. Our previous audit of urine microscopy skills revealed a substantial potential for improvement in urine microscopy among doctors and biomedical laboratory scientists at our hospital (Bioingenioeren 2009; 44: 12 - 14). Junior doctors expressed they lacked a readily accessible source of reference for urine microscopy in their clinical work with patients presenting with acute kidney injury. The aim of this project was to develop a reference guide and learning aid for urine microscopy. Methods: We sampled urine microscopy images from our routine work in the hospital and prepared a systematic guide for particle identification, based on the European Urinalysis Guidelines (Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2000; 60, Suppl.231: 1-96). A web engineer was engaged to program our text and images to function on cellular phones as an application (app). The reference guide was supplemented with a quiz of urine microscopy images (image). After installation on a mobile device the app does not need web access. The app has been distributed free of charge on a non-profit basis. Results: Our app (urinemicro) is as far as we know the only available app for microscopic particle identification of urinary sediments and has since its release by our hospital in 2012 via Apples App store and Google Play been installed on more than 35,000 mobile devices. The app has received good ratings, in January 2016 with an average score of 4.4 out of 5 based on 306 ratings in Google Play. We have received feedback from many users that they find the app useful to aid in urine microscopy when assessing patients with acute renal failure. Conclusions: It is our hope and belief that our development of an app guiding in urine microscopy, available free of charge, will help colleagues in the diagnosis and assessment of renal injury. (Figure presented).