Does a patient discard or keep a first morning urine collection when collecting a 24

Collection and Preservation of 24-Hour Urine Specimens


Patient

:
The 24-hour collection container may contain chemicals (as a preservative) that are hazardous.

DO NOT urinate directly into the container

. Collect urine in a clean, dry vessel and carefully pour the urine into the 24-hour collection container.

  1. Follow your physician’s advice regarding any food, drink or drugs before and during collection.
  2. Empty your bladder completely upon awakening and discard this urine. This is your start date and time.  Write it on your paperwork and/or the collection container.
  3. Collect all urine for the next 24 hours.  The last urine collected should be that voided upon awakening the second day, at the same time as the start time.
  4. Recap the collection container carefully and completely.
  5. Return the collection container to where you were instructed to return it as soon as possible.

NOTE:  Some urine tests require that the 24-hour urine collection be refrigerated during collection.   Follow your physician’s instructions for all collection procedures.

Provider/Nurse

:

If it is necessary to measure the total amount of soluble substances excreted in a 24-hour period, a strictly timed 24-hour specimen is required, because many soluble substances exhibit diurnal variations.
  1. Collect the specimen in one or more disposable, wide-mouthed, clean plastic container(s) with a plastic lid large enough to hold about 3 L.  Amber-colored containers may be required for light-sensitive analytes.
  2. Determine if the collection will require a preservative, ensuring the collection container has the appropriate preservative, at the correct concentration, along with a warning label indicating the preservative in use.
  3. Label the collection container including the patient identification (name and hospital number), test(s) required, and preservative used. 
  4. The start date and time plus the finish date and time should be recorded on the container and requisition at the beginning and end of the collection period.
  5. The 24-hour collection should begin by having the patient empty his or her bladder or catheter bag at a fixed time and discard the specimen.  Record this start date and time on the collection container and on the laboratory requisition.
  6. If a preservative is required, the patient must be advised to collect the urine in a separate clean container and then carefully transfer the urine to the collection container that will be transported to the laboratory.  Comment:  Assume that all preservatives are hazardous (most are).
  7. Instruct the patient (or nurse) to collect all voided urine during the 24-hour collection period and add it to the collection container.
  8. The collection should end exactly 24 hours after it began, by having the patient empty his or her bladder, or catheter bag, and adding this specimen to the collection container.
  9. Record the ending date and time on the collection container and on the laboratory requisition.
  10. Carefully seal the cap tightly so as to avoid leakage.
Consult the following on-line resources

:
Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care policies:

  • Section XII Renal Standards
  • Policy #N-12.030 - Urine Collection: Midstream Clean Catch
  • Policy #N-12.032 - Urine Collection: Twenty-Four Hour

Pathology Laboratory Services Handbook:

  • Urine Tests Requiring no Preservatives
  • Urine Tests Requiring Preservatives or Special Containers
  • Urine Tests Requiring Preservatives or Special Containers (Grouped by Tests)

Caution!

  • Some tests require a chemical preservative in the form of a powder or a strong acid solution.

  • If the container has a preservative, the chemical name will be clearly indicated on the bottle.

  • DO NOT remove the preservative from the container. Keep the container upright to prevent spillage of contents. Urine should not be voided directly into the container.

  • Keep out of the reach of children. If the chemical preservative in the container is splashed or spilled, refer to first aid measures on the reverse of this pamphlet.

  • Store the container in the dark between 2 - 4 degrees celsius (e.g. in a refrigerator) during the collection procedure.


Step 1

DISCARD your first morning urine sample; make sure your bladder has been completely emptied. Record this time and date on the collection container label. This is the START TIME.

Step 2

Begin collecting urine in the container with the SECOND urine of the day.

Step 3

Collect your ENTIRE urine sample each time you urinate for the complete 24 hour period.

Step 4

The final urine sample should be collected the following morning, 24 hours after your START TIME. Make sure that your bladder has been completely emptied. Record this time and date on the collection container and label FINISH TIME.

Step 5

Clearly label the container with the patient*s first and last name, date of birth, as well as the START and FINISH dates and times of the urine collection period.

Step 6

For sanitary reasons, the container must be enclosed in a plastic bag.


Important!

A complete 24 hour urine collection is required. If urine sampling is missed within the 24 hour period, do not attempt to regain it the following day. Inform the laboratory upon returning the sample. The entire collection may have to be re-collected.

Deliver the urine container to the laboratory as soon as possible after completion of the collection, during normal hours of operation.

First Aid Measures

Eyes
Remove contact lenses. Immediately flush eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes keeping eyelids open. Seek medical attention immediately.

Skin
Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing. If irritation persists seek medical attention.

Ingestion
Do NOT induce vomiting. Seek medical attention immediately.

Inhalation
Remove from exposure and move to fresh air immediately. Seek medical attention immediately.

For all concerns, call the 24 hour poison information centre at 1-866-727-1110

When giving a patient instructions for a 24

Instructions:.
Empty your bladder into the toilet when you get up in the morning. ... .
For the remainder of the 24-hour period, collect all urine you pass and immediately add it to the special collection container..
The test ends 24-hours from the first (uncollected) specimen the day before..

When obtaining a 24

1. The collection of the 24-hour urine starts with the patient voiding (completely emptying bladder) and discarding the first urine passed in the morning. 2.

Why should a patient never void directly into a 24

The 24-hour collection container may contain chemicals (as a preservative) that are hazardous. DO NOT urinate directly into the container.

What is the purpose and proper collection steps for a 24

A 24-hour urine collection is a simple lab test that measures what's in your urine. The test is used to check kidney function. A 24-hour urine collection is done by collecting your urine in a special container over a full 24-hour period. The container must be kept cool until the urine is returned to the lab.