Laboratory Supplies Needed:
- 1 transport cooler (to be frozen beforehand)
- 1 urine collection container with a yellow cap
- 2 transport containers
- 1 polyethylene tray
- 24-hour urine collection container
- Acidifying additive – 10% HCl (Keep out of reach of children. Avoid skin and mucous membrane contact.)
Urine Collection Procedure:
- Place the transport cooler flat in the freezer to pre-freeze.
- Begin urine collection, e.g., at 7:00 AM. Discard the first morning urine and record the starting time.
- Collect all urine over the next 24 hours, including the next day’s 7:00 AM sample, in the special 24-hour collection container. During collection, store the container in the refrigerator (2–8°C).
- Before adding the first urine sample, pour 10 mL of 10% HCl into the special container to acidify the urine.
- After the 24-hour period is complete, record the total urine volume collected.
Preparation for Transport to the Laboratory:
- Remove the 24-hour container from the refrigerator and shake it gently.
- Using the yellow-capped collection container, take 10 mL of urine twice (i.e., two 10 mL samples), and pour them into the two transport containers (10 mL each). Close the lids tightly.
- If the samples are being transported to the lab immediately, place both containers with urine in the pre-frozen transport cooler and deliver them to the lab.
- If the delivery to the lab is delayed more than 30 minutes, place the containers on a polyethylene tray and freeze them. Just before transport, move the frozen urine containers into the transport cooler and bring them to the lab.
Note:
- The patient should consume approximately 1.5–2 liters of fluid during the collection period.
- If the total urine volume exceeds 1 liter, add 10 mL of the acidifying agent for every additional liter.