Urine Collection Methods in Medical Testing

Urine Collection Methods

• Tolerance Test Specimen: requires collection of urine at specific times corresponding to blood collection (e.g. fasting, 1/2-hour, 1 hour, etc.)
• Regular Voided Urine: no special patient preparation, collected in a clean urine container
• Midstream Clean-Catch Specimen: collected in a sterile container, suitable for microbial analysis or culture and sensitivity testing

Catheterized Specimen

• Collected from a sterile catheter inserted through the urethra into the bladder
• Urine must be collected in a sterile container, following midstream clean-catch procedures

Other Urine Tests

• Numerous chemistry tests, including electrophoresis, tests for heavy metals, myoglobin clearance, creatinine clearance, and porphyrins
• Many tests require a pooled timed specimen, such as a 24-hour collection

Urine Cytology Studies

• Performed to detect cancer, cytomegalovirus, and other viral and inflammatory diseases of the bladder and urinary system
• Prepared from urinary sediment or filtrate, and examined under a microscope for abnormal cells

Types of Urine Specimens

• Random: can be collected at any time, primarily used for routine urinalysis and screening tests
• First Morning Urine/8-Hour Specimen: collected after an overnight fast, tested for glucose

Urine Drug Specimen

• Performed to detect illicit drug use, anabolic steroid use, and unwarranted prescription drug use
• Also used to monitor therapeutic drug use and confirm a diagnosis of drug overdose

Urine Culture and Sensitivity

• Test requested for patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Involves placing a measured portion of urine on a special nutrient medium, identifying any microorganisms that grow

This quiz covers the different methods of urine collection, including tolerance test specimens and regular voided urine collections. It details the procedures and requirements for each method.