Clean Catch Random Urine Specimen (Female)

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1. Before the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water; rinse well and dry with a paper towel.
     
     
   • Tear open two soap towelette packages so that, as the towelettes are needed, they can be easily removed with one hand.
     
     
   • Carefully open the urine container. Do NOT touch any of the inside surfaces of the container or lid.
     
     
2. During the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Spread apart the labia (skin folds) with one hand to expose the urinary opening and keep this hand in place during cleansing and urination.
     
     
   • Cleanse the urinary opening with a single "front-to-back" wipe of the first towelette -- do NOT scrub back and forth -- and repeat this cleansing with the second towelette.
     
     
   • Discard used towelettes into the toilet.
     
     
   • Start to urinate into the toilet bowl while keeping the labial skin folds apart with the fingers and without touching the cleansed area.
     
     
   • Without stopping the stream of urine, place the container between your legs to collect the specimen. Do NOT let container to touch your legs or clothing; keep fingers away from rim and interior of container.
     
     
   • Fill the container at least half full with urine.
     
     
3. After the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Replace the lid and tightly secure.
     
     
   • The specimen must be refrigerated within 20 minutes of the time it was collected.
     
     
   • The specimen can be refrigerated for nearly 12 hours after it was collected.
     
     
   • The laboratory must receive the refrigerated specimen:
     - within 12 hours of the time it was collected
     - delivered to the laboratory on ice.

Clean Catch Random Urine Specimen (Male)

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1. Before the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water; rinse well and dry with a paper towel.
     
     
   • Tear open two soap towelette packages so that, as the towelettes are needed, they can be easily removed with one hand.
     
     
   • Carefully open the urine container. Do NOT touch any of the inside surfaces of the container or lid.
     
     
2. During the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Pull back the foreskin to completely expose the head of the penis.
     
     
   • Cleanse the head of the penis thoroughly using the first towelette and repeat this cleansing with the second towelette.
     
     
   • Discard used towelettes into the toilet.
     
     
   • Start to urinate into the toilet bowl without touching the cleansed area.
     
     
   • Without stopping the stream of urine, place the container between your legs to collect the specimen (do NOT allow the container to touch your legs or clothing; keep fingers away from rim and interior surface of container).
     
     
   • Fill the container at least half full with urine.
     
     
3. After the collection of your urine specimen:
   
   
   • Replace the lid and tightly secure.
     
     
   • The specimen must be refrigerated within 20 minutes of the time it was collected.
     
     
   • The specimen can be refrigerated for nearly 12 hours after it was collected.
     
     
   • The laboratory must receive the refrigerated specimen:
     - within 12 hours of the time it was collected
     - delivered to the laboratory on ice.

Fasting

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Patients often need clarification of the term "fasting" as it relates to laboratory test orders. The South Bend Medical Foundation issues the following instructions to patients who have a fasting test ordered:

Your doctor has ordered a laboratory test that requires you to be in a fasting state for the test.

"Fasting" means you:

• Should not eat food for the 12 hours before the test is collected.
• Should not drink beverages (other than water) during the 12 hour period.
• Should not chew gum during the 12 hour period.
• Should not use mints, cough drops, or throat lozenges during the 12 hour period.

• Are permitted to drink water during the 12 hours before the test is collected.
• Should take prescribed medications during the 12 hour period (unless directed otherwise).
• Are permitted to brush your teeth during the 12 hour period.

Post Vasectomy Semen Analysis

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The specimen must not be collected until two months after the vasectomy. There should be no ejaculation for one day prior to the specimen collection, unless the physician specifies otherwise.

Ideally the semen specimen should be collected at the testing site or within 30-60 minutes before arriving at the testing site.

Maintain the semen specimen at a temperature not less than 75º F and not greater than 95º F. A specimen container taped to the body during transport by patient usually ensures acceptability.

A specimen received more than six hours after collection would be a cause for rejection.

Routine Semen Analysis, Semen Profile

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You must not have a fever during the three day period preceding collection. There should be no ejaculation for the three day period preceding collection, unless the physician specifies otherwise.

Ideally, the semen specimen should be collected at the testing site or within 30-60 minutes before arrival at the testing site.

Maintain the semen specimen at a temperaturenot of not less than 75º F and not greater than 95º F. A specimen container taped to the body during transport by patient usually ensures acceptability.

A specimen received more than one hour after collection would be a cause for rejection.

Thin Prep, Pap Test

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There should be no douches for 72 hours prior to the test.

Avoid appointments for the collection of specimens during menstruation, periods of active bleeding, or inflammatory episodes.

24-Hour Urine Specimen Collected In Container With Preservative

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Avoid contact with the preservative in the container. Do not void directly into the container. Store container in a secure place away from children.

To begin collection of timed specimen, urinate noting the date and exact time. Discard this urine, but document the date and time of voiding on the container label and test requisition as the "start" of the timed specimen. Save all of the urine voided during the designated time period, including the portion voided at the exact end of the time period. Document date and time of final voiding on the label and requisition as the "end" of the timed specimen

Refrigerate during collection. Upon the completion of the collection, mix the entire specimen well, and measure the 24 hour volume. Pour off 50 mL of urine into a separate plastic screw cap container. Freeze urine aliquot and transport it frozen. Take the urine aliquot with the notation of the entire 24 hour urine volume on the aliquot label and on the requisition to the laboratory.

24-Hour Urine Specimen Collected In Container Without Preservative

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To begin collection of the timed specimen, urinate noting the date and exact time. Discard this first portion of urine, but document the date and time of voiding on the container label and test requisition as the "start" of the timed specimen. Save all the urine during the designated time period (usually 24 hours). Document the date and time of final voiding on the label and requisition as the "end" of the timed specimen.

Refrigerate during and after collection. Upon completion of the collection, mix the entire specimen very well, and measure the 24 hour volume. Pour off 20 mL of the urine into a separate plastic screw cap container. Refrigerate urine aliquot and transport refrigerated. Take the urine aliquot with the notation of the entire 24 hour urine volume on the aliquot and the requisition to the laboratory.