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

24 Hour Urine Collections:

1. To begin the collection, empty the bladder and discard this urine. Record this time and date as the start of the collection.
2. 24 hour urine collections should be started Sunday through Thursday.
3. Collect all urine excreted during the next 24 hours in the urine collection container.
4. 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.
5. Avoid contact with metal during the collection.
6. The container should be refrigerated during and after the 24 hour collection period until it can be brought to Saint Luke’s Regional Laboratories.

1. Measure and record the 24 hour urine total volume on the test request form along with the patient's name, date, and time the collection started and finished.
2. Mix well and transfer the urine into an amber plastic screw cap tube with an amber cap. If an amber tube and cap are not available, cover a clear plastic transport tube completely from top to bottom with aluminum foil.
3. Identify the specimen with the patient's name, directly on the transport tube and on the outside of the aluminum foil. Secure with tape.
4. The specimen must be kept refrigerated during transport.
5. Enter the urine total volume in the prompt.

Frozen - 14 days
Refrigerated - 7 days
Room temperature - unacceptable

Stored specimen not refrigerated, specimen exposed to light, acid preservative, or pH <3.

84120 - Porphyrins, Urine 24 Hour
81050 - Urine Volume Measurement (EAP 30033360)