24 Hour Urine collection

24 Hour Urine collection

24 Hour Urine Collection
➢ a simple lab test that measures what’s in the urine.
➢ valuable test designed to give doctors an indication as to how your
kidneys are functioning.
➢ It is done by collecting the 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.
➢ The collection will start after the first void in the morning and will
discontinue the next day at the same time the first urine was collected for
a period of 24 hours. It is important to collect all urine in the following 24-
hour period.
➢ Use of Amber-colored containers may be required for light-sensitive analytes.
Factors may affect the accuracy of a 24-hour urine
collection
These include:
• Forgetting to collect some of the urine
• Going beyond the 24-hour collection period and collecting too much urine
• Losing urine from the specimen container through spilling
• Not keeping urine cold while collecting it
• Acute stress
• Vigorous exercise
• Certain foods, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, bananas, citrus fruits, and vanilla
 There may be other risks depending on the specific health problems. Be sure to
discuss any concerns with the healthcare provider before the collection.
Equipment:
Empty bottle or a disposable, wide-mouthed, clean plastic container(s) with a
plastic lid large enough to hold about 3 L.
Bucket with ice
Clean gloves
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Procedure
1.Introduce self. Explain the procedure to the client. Inform about the
importance of staying away from certain foods while collecting the
urine.
• To enhance client's cooperation and not to affect the results of the
test
2. Prepare the equipment. Provide a large container to store the urine.
Have a cold place to store the urine or place it in a refrigerator or in a
bucket with ice.
• To protect the urine from spoilage
3. 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.
To ensure that the urine is collected properly and preserve the
urine.
4. Label the collection container including the patient identification
(name and hospital number), test(s) required, preservative used,
and the time urine collection started . 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.
To ensure urine is collected to a right patient at the right time
5. To begin the collection, have the patient totally empty the
bladder into the toilet. If there is a catheter collection bag, it
should be changed, and a fresh bag used. Note the start time on
the requisition.
To ensure proper collection technique and to avoid
contamination of the specimen
6. Hydrate the patient with at least 800 ml of water. Note that special
orders may have been given by the attending physician of a patient
with documented renal disease
To prevent dehydration and for easy access in collecting the
specimen

Note : These special orders may override recommendations made here with respect to water
intake or withholding of medication. Withhold tea and coffee the day of the test. Some tests are
susceptible to drug interference, thus depending on the test being collected, some medications
should be halted prior to and during the 24hr collection.. Prescribed medications should not be
halted without physician approval.
7. During the following 24 hours, every drop of urine
must be placed (preferably directly) into the
container as soon as possible
For the accuracy in collecting the urine specimen
9. Ending the collection – 5 minutes before the 24-
hour collection period is complete, the bladder or
catheter collection bag is emptied into the collection
container.
10. Record the ending date and time on the
collection container and on the laboratory
requisition.
To ensure accuracy in documentation of the24
hour urine collection

11. Carefully seal the cap tightly so as to avoid

leakage.
To protect the specimen and to avoid spillage
12. Maintain the container in an ice
slush bath with the ice level at least as
high as the urine level at all times.
(Outpatients can maintain the container
in the home refrigerator or portable
cooler.)
To ensure that the collected urine will
not spoil
 IMPORTANT! If an error in timing occurs, or if some urine
is lost, be sure to note that timing information accurately
on the requisition. The physician and the clinical
pathologist can then determine whether useful
information can be obtained anyway (often it can).