Stone analysis to determine the chemical composition of the stone should be performed when possible – if patients retrieve the stone or it is surgically extracted. Usually when patients are treated with ureteroscopy it is possible to send a fragment of the calculus for analysis.
Recurrent stone formers do not require a stone analysis every time as they tend to make similar stones every time.
The chemical composition of a stone may assist with subsequent stone prevention techniques such as dietary advice and medical stone prophylaxis.
