Department of Pathology: Clinical Laboratory Division

Random Urine:  Random urine should be collected into sterile containers.  If a urine is ordered the patient should be given instructions for collecting a "clean catch" urine sample.  Urine sample should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible.  If a delay in transport is anticipated, urine samples should be refrigerated to retard growth of bacteria until the test is performed.

24 hour Urine:  Many urine chemistry tests require analysis of a sample taken from an entire 24 hour excretion.  Incorrect collection and preservation will result in erroneous results, therefore it is important to follow collection instructions and review the chart for preservatives prior to the start of collection.  Urine should be collected in the brown 24 hr urine container with the appropriate preservative (if required).

Patient Instructions for 24 hour Urine:  patients should be instructed to discard the first morning specimen on the day the collection is to begin.  Except for the first discard, the patient should collect all urine voided during the next 24 hour period, including the first morning specimen of the next morning.  Urine passed during bowel movements must also be collected.  Urine may be collected into another clean container and then carefully poured into the 24 hour urine collection container.  If possible, the entire specimen should be refrigerated at 4°C (39°F) during collection, or kept in a cool place.  Submit entire urine collection to the Clinical Laboratories.

Certain tests require preservatives to be added to the container prior to the start of collection.  If there is a preservative in the urine container that is given to the patient, there should be information on the bottle indicating what type of preservative is in the container and the amount.  Orders that require several tests to be collected may require two or more separate collections based on the required preservatives needed for each test.

NOTE:  It is the responsibility of the person filling out the lab requisition to make sure that there is a separate requisition for each urine collection, with only those tests that can be performed on that collection requested.  The pharmacy will provide inpatient units with preservatives for collection.  Outpatients can obtain containers and preservatives from the phlebotomy areas.