Clinical Pathology Laboratory - Sample Submission
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Samples for Urine Analysis
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| Urine samples should be collected into red top containers or urine
cups for all urine tests, including cytology. If "culture if"
is desired, ensure this is clearly marked on the request form and
make sure that you submit some of the sample (a small amount) in a
second red top tube, so that we can keep that tube sterile. |
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An example of an appropriately filled out urinalysis request form
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| These guidelines should be followed for submission of urine tests: |
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Collect at least 10 ml of urine. We try and standardize the volume
of urine used for urinalysis. This is impossible to do if samples
ranging from 0.5 ml (way too little to do anything useful with) to
100 ml are collected. In addition, we need a minimum of 10 ml of urine
for electrophoresis. The urine protein concentration is very low and
we need a minimum amount of protein to perform the electrophoresis.
Most urine samples require concentration to obtain this minimum amount
and for optimal concentration, we need a large sample volume. |
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The tubes should be labeled with the patient identification and "urine"
at the minimum. A request form with pertinent history details should
be submitted concurrently. |
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Make sure you mark off how the urine was collected (free catch, catheterized,
cystocentesis). |
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Culture if: Mark off the appropriate request on the form. Submit a
separate (second) red top tube (this only needs to contain a small
amount of urine) and a completed diagnostic laboratory request form. |
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If there is going to be a delay between urine collection and submission,
the urine should always be refrigerated. |
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For cytologic samples of urine, if there is going to be a delay between
sample collection and submission, always make smears of the urine
sediment and submit these concurrently with a portion of uncentrifuged
urine in a red top tube or urine container. |
