High numbers of squamous epithelial cells typically indicate the specimen is not a proper “clean catch.” Bacteria seen may be a contaminant of normal skin flora. The urine can be cultured to differentiate contaminating bacteria from bacteria capable of causing a urinary tract infection.
Squamous epithelial cells are not clinically significant.
Appearance
Squamous epithelial cells are large with abundant cytoplasm and a small nucleus about the size of a red blood cell. Edges of the cell may be folded over or curled up.
Squamous Epithelial Gallery
