24 Hour Urine Collection

Instructions for 24 Hour Urine Collection

Your provider has ordered a test that requires a timed urine collection. You may be asked to follow a special diet prior to and during the specimen collection period. You can go here to review the diet: Dietary Preparation for 24 Hour Urine Collection

Please follow the instructions outlined below. A special urine container will be provided by the laboratory. It will be labeled if it contains a preservative.

___Container has preservative ___Container has NO preservative

Caution: The large urine container given to you may contain a preservative. If so, DO NOT DISCARD IT. The preservative is POISONOUS. AVOID ANY CONTACT AND DO NOT BREATHE ITS VAPORS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Any spilled preservative should be washed off immediately with plenty of water.

1. Most people find the collection easiest when started on a Sunday., Do not begin the collection on a Friday, Saturday or the day before a holiday unless the laboratory will be open the following day. Follow any instructions your provider gave you regarding the collection date.

2. At your "TIME START", when you get up in the morning, ( 6 AM Sunday for example) empty your bladder and discard this urine. Record your "TIME START" and the date on the urine container label.

3. Collect your urine into a separate special container provided by the laboratory, and pour the urine into the larger container. DO NOT PASS URINE DIRECTLY INTO THE LARGE CONTAINER.

4. During the next 24 hours, collect all of your urine and add it to the large container.

5. Store the urine in the refrigerator or in a separate insulated container packed with ice. Keep the container tightly capped to prevent leakage.

6. The next day, at the same time that you emptied your bladder the day before (6 AM Monday for example), empty your bladder and add this urine to the container. Record your "TIME END" and the date on the container label. "TIME START" and "TIME END" should be the same time, 24 hours apart.

7. Do not bring in an incomplete collection (e.g. forgetting one specimen during the 24 hours). Instead, come to the laboratory for a new container and begin again.

8. Be sure your container is labeled with your name, Kaiser Permanente medical record number, and the sample date and ‘TIME START” and “TIME END” before you leave the laboratory.

9. Return the urine specimen with any slip(s) the provider gave you to the laboratory the same day the specimen collection is completed.

Note: Instuctions for a 12 hour, 2 hour or any other timed urine collection are the same as above, except for the specimen collection time period.

Additional Instructions for Creatinine Clearance Test
You must come to the laboratory for a required blood test the day the urine collection is completed, when returning the urine specimen. Your height and weight are required for this test.

Disclaimer
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