Sample collection instructions

Your physician has requested a 24 Hour Urine test. To ensure accurate test results, please follow the below instructions carefully. Some 24 hour urine tests require an additive in the container. Consult your physician prior to the test to make sure you have the correct container.

Collecting the specimen:

• Decide a time to start the test (eg.8am)
• Label the container with your full name, date of birth and the date and time you start the collection
• Empty your bladder at this time and DISCARD THIS URINE.
• From now on ALL URINE PASSED in the next 24 hours should be collected in a container (such as a clean ice cream container) and MUST be transferred to the large bottle. Keep the container in a cool place (do not refrigerate) in an upright position with the lid firmly secured at all time
• 24 hours after the commencement time (eg.8am the next morning) empty your bladder and place this urine into the battle. Your specimen is now complete
• Write the date and time that you completed the sample on the label.
• Deliver the container back to your physician

For 24 hr Creatinine Clearance: This test is used to measure kidney function and requires a blood test to be taken within 48 hours of the urine being collected. It is preferable to have the blood test when you deliver the completed urine specimen.

Your physician has ordered a blood test requiring you to fast. To ensure accurate test results, please follow the below instructions carefully:

• Ensure you have had nothing to eat or drink (excluding water) for 8-10 hours before your blood test
• Avoid smoking
• To stay hydrated, make sure you drink adequate water
• Avoid coffee and tea
• The most common fasting method is to fast during the night and have your blood test first thing in the morning
• If you have fasted for more than 15 hours, please advise your doctor

IMPORTANT: If you are a diabetic or take medications, please consult your physician before fasting

Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure that your test results are accurate and reliable. Your doctor may give you one or two jars for specimen collection, depending on what they are investigating.

• Label the jars with your first name, family name, date of birth, date of collection and time of collection.
• Ensure there is no urine which comes into contact with the feces sample.
• Pass srine into the toilet first if necessary, and then place a clean plastic container into the toilet bowl to catch the feces.
• Using the scoop inside the lid of the jar, collect the feces and place into the jar, then secure the lid tightly.
• Deliver the jar to your doctor as soon as possible.

If you have a second jar with liquid in it, unscrew the lid, remove the small stick attached to the inside and dip into the feces. Collect enough to fill the line on the side of the jar. Place the stick back into the fluid-filled jar, tighten the lid and gently shake 5 times.

Note to Doctors:

For Ova & Parasite collection: Use 10% formalin in the usual fecal jar.

This test detects the presence of blood in the feces. To ensure accurate test results, please follow the below instructions carefully.

For this test, you will need to collect feces samples each day for three days in a row OR a sample from each of three consecutive bowel movements. The containers to use are tubes with a dipstick attached to the top.

• Label the jars with your first name, family name, date of birth, date of collection and time of collection
• Ensure no urine comes into contact with the feces sample
• Pass urine into the toilet first if necessary, then place a clean plastic container into the toilet bowl to catch the feces
• Using the dipstick, dip the stick into the feces at 4-5 random sites, allowing the feces to cover the end. Then carefully place the stick back into the tube
• Screw the lid on securely
• Repeat steps for the second and third collection
• Deliver all three jars to your physician as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours after the collection.
   

Important instructions:

Do not collect samples during, or until three days after a menstrual period.

Avoid taking Aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for seven days before the collection. (Please consult your physician first before withholding any medication).

Prior to this test, try to maintain a well-balanced diet of fruit and vegetables.

Your physician has ordered a sputum sample for testing. To ensure accurate results, please follow the below instructions carefully.

Before collection, brush your teeth, rinse your mouth well and gargle with water to reduce contamination with food particles.

• Label the sputum jar with your first name, family name, date of birth, time of collection and date of collection.
• Sputum should be produced from the base of the lungs, usually through a deep cough. It is important to note that Sputum is usually white, yellow or green in color. Saliva, in contrast, is often clear and colorless. Saliva is not acceptable in this test and will result in a re-collection if submitted.
• Spit the sputum directly into the jar provided.
• It is sometimes easier to perform this first thing in the morning.
• Close the lid tightly and return to your physician .

• Collect 3 jars from your physician. These jars might have preservative liquid inside.
• Label the sputum jars with your first name, family name, date of birth, time of collection and date of collection.
• Sputum should be produced from the base of the lungs, usually through a deep cough. It is important to note that Sputum is usually white, yellow or green in color. Saliva, in contrast, is often clear and colorless. Saliva is not acceptable in this test and will result in a re-collection if submitted.
• Spit the sputum directly into the jar.
• Close the lid tightly and return all 3 jars to your to your physician.