The collection container must be kept refrigerated or on ice during collection. Instruct patient to void at 8 AM (or 8 PM) and discard the specimen. Then collect all the urine including the final specimen voided at the end of the 24-hour collection period (ie, 8 AM or 8 PM the following day).
Refer to separate patient instructions for detailed 24-hour urine collection. Record the collection date/time, total volume and patient's height and weight on the specimen container and test requisition.
Blood sample will be collected at the end of the same 24-hour period of urine collection. Allow specimen to completely clot (this can take up to 60 minutes). Centrifuge for 15 minutes. The serum should be physically separated from contact with cells within 2 hours from the time of collection. If the specimen is collected in an anticoagulant tube, centrifuge and transfer plasma into a properly labeled transfer tube within 2 hours of collection.
For patient safety, dropping off specimens requires a full registration process and verification of proper specimen collection.