3. Begin your 24-hour collection on any morning.

4. Empty your bladder when you get up in the morning. Discard this specimen and note the time. From then on, collect all urine passed during the day and night in the small collection container and pour it into the large collection container.

5. It is important to collect all urine passed during the 24-hour collection period. An incomplete collection may result in an inaccurate interpretation of the test results.

6. Should you have a bowel movement during the 24-hour period, try to pass your urine prior to the bowel movement so as to avoid loss of urine.

7. Make your final collection when you empty your bladder the next morning. It should be about the same time you noted in paragraph 4 above.

8. Keep all urine in the large container refrigerated, and bring the container to the laboratory as soon as possible after the 24-hour collection is complete.

9. If you fail to collect any urine passed during the 24-hour collection period, obtain another large urine specimen container and begin the collection again.

10. If you have any questions, please contact the laboratory, phone 787-4160.

REFERENCES:

1. Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, Edited by Norbert W. Tietz, 1986, pg 489.

2. NCCLS, GP16-T, Routine Urinalysis and Collection, Transportation, and Preservation of Urine Specimens.

When you get your test results, ask your doctor to explain them to you. Comparing your test results with those of family or friends may confuse or alarm you. You may not have had the same type of test, so your results could have a completely different meaning.