1. Patient should avoid aspirin, disulfiram, reserpine, and pyridoxine if possible for at least 48 hours prior to collection of the specimen. Levodopa should be avoided for two weeks before collection.

24 hour urine. 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. To begin 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. 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. Record the 24 hour urine volume on the request form.
2. Enter the volume in the MLAB prompt.

Frozen - 14 days
Refrigerated - 14 days
Room temperature - 14 days

83150 - Homovanillic Acid 24 HR Urine (EAP 30021127)
81050 - Urine Volume Measurement (EAP 30033360)