Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: 24-hour urine collection

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL from a 24-hour timed urine collection. Add 10 mL of

                                 12M hydrochloric acid as preservative at start of collection. Refrigerate specimen

                                 during collection, and send specimen refrigerated.

Stability: Urine specimens for magnesium may be stored up to 7 days at 2-8°C. 

Collection Instructions: Obtain 24-hour urine jug from laboratory

Note: 1. Alternatively, specimen may be just refrigerated during collection, and acidified

               to a pH of <3 upon receipt in laboratory.

          2. Starting and ending times of collection are required for processing.

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

               be ordered and resulted. (FOR LAB USE ONLY)