Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: 24-Hour urine collection

Specimen Volume:A minimum volume of 2.3 µL plus a dead volume from a 24-hour timed urine collection. No preservative.

Stability: Refrigerate specimen during collection, and send specimen refrigerated. Urine stability is 4 days at 20-25 ⁰C if NaOH is added.

Collection Instructions: Obtain 24-hour urine jug from laboratory.

Note: 1. Starting and ending times of collection are required for processing.

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

                ordered and resulted. (FOR LAB USE ONLY).

           3. Alternatively the specimen can be collected with 10 mL 1N NaOH as a preservative to

               prevent urate precipitation. If the urine is being collected with other tests, it can be just

               refrigerated during collection, then the aliquot for uric acid should be alkalinized before

               assaying if there are precipitates present.