From the Research
The presence of 6-10 squamous epithelial cells in a urine sample is considered a normal finding and does not require any treatment or intervention. This small number of squamous cells typically originates from the urethra, vagina (in females), or skin contamination during collection. When collecting urine samples, these cells naturally slough off and appear in the specimen. A count of 6-10 cells per high-power field is within normal limits for most laboratory standards. If you're concerned about this finding on a urinalysis report, no action is needed as this represents normal cellular shedding. However, significantly higher numbers of squamous cells (>15-20 per high-power field) might indicate improper collection technique or contamination of the sample. In such cases, a repeat clean-catch midstream urine collection might be recommended. According to a recent study 1, the presence of squamous epithelial cells can be used as a quality indicator for urine sample contamination, with cutoffs of 21.35 SEC/µL for women and 5.05 SEC/µL for men. Another study 2 found that squamous epithelial cells are a poor predictor of urine culture contamination, but may predict poor predictive performance of traditional urinalysis measures.
Some key points to consider:
- The presence of squamous epithelial cells in urine is a normal physiological process of cellular turnover 3
- Significantly higher numbers of squamous cells might indicate improper collection technique or contamination of the sample 4
- Urinalysis could be a potential screening tool for cervical cancer in older women who have not been screened or have no screening access 5
- The cutoffs for bacteria/µL (193.65 for females and 23.55 for males) indicated that the presence of bacteria in male samples may be more associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs), while in female samples, it may be associated with either UTIs or contamination/colonization scenarios 1
In terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, it is essential to prioritize the accurate interpretation of urinalysis results. The presence of 6-10 squamous epithelial cells in a urine sample does not require any treatment or intervention, and significantly higher numbers of squamous cells might indicate improper collection technique or contamination of the sample. Therefore, a repeat clean-catch midstream urine collection might be recommended in such cases.