Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: 24-hour urine collection

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL from a 24-hour timed urine collection.  Refrigerate specimen during collection, and send specimen refrigerated.

Stability: Urines should be stored at 2 - 8ºC and analyzed within 6 days.  Freeze for longer storage. 

Collection Instructions: Obtain 24-hour urine jug from laboratory. Collect urine without using additives. If urine must be collected with a preservative or other analytes, only hydrochloric acid (14 to 47 mmol/L urine, e.g. 5 mL 10 % HCl or 5 mL 30 % HCl per liter urine) or boric acid (81 mmol/L, e.g. 5 g per liter urine) may be used.
Note: 1. Starting and ending times of collection are required for processing.

           2. When a 24-hour urine for creatinine is done, a PV (period and volume) must also

                be ordered and resulted by lab.