24 hour urine collection. Alternately, a pour-off sample from a 24 hour urine collection is acceptable but client must measure 24 hour urine volume and indicate the amount on the requisition.

24 Hour Urine Collections:
1. Begin the collection at 8 A.M.
2. The preservative should be added to the container prior to the start of the collection.
3. To begin the collection, empty the bladder and discard this urine. Record this time and date as the start of the collection.
4. 24 hour urine collections should be started Sunday through Thursday.
5. Collect all urine excreted during the next 24 hours in the urine collection container.
6. Exactly 24 hours after the collection was begun, empty the bladder for the last time. Add this urine to the 24 hour urine container. The collection is finished.
7. Label the container, keep on ice.
8. Measure and record the total urine volume on the request form.
9. Remove a 20 mL aliquot. The pH should be less than 5.
10. Refrigerate during and after the collection.

Enter the 24 hour urine volume in the HLAB prompt.
If the original container is received with pH >3 but <5, adjust the pH to <3 with 6 N HCL.

Include the 24 hour total urine volume on the request form and the date and time the collection started and finished.

Frozen - 30 days
Refrigerated - 14 days
Room temperature - 3 days

Specimens received at the testing laboratory with no preservatives or in the original container with a pH >5 will be rejected.

82384 - Catecholamines Free 24 HR Urine (EAP 30020588)
81050 - Urine Volume Measurement (EAP 30033360)