NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is educating a patient about collecting a 24-hour urine specimen. Which of the following instructions should the MA provide?
- ACollect the first morning urine specimen and then discard it.
- BRefrigerate the specimen or keep it on ice during the collection period.
- CBegin collecting urine at a specific time and include all urine for the next 24 hours.
- DAdd a preservative to the collection container after each urination.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Refrigerate the specimen or keep it on ice during the collection period.
To prevent bacterial growth and degradation of analytes, 24-hour urine specimens must be kept refrigerated or on ice throughout the collection period. The first morning void is typically discarded, and collection begins after that, including all subsequent voids for 24 hours. Preservatives are often pre-added or added at the beginning, not after each urination.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The first morning urine specimen is typically discarded, and the collection starts with the next void, not collected and then discarded.
- C. The collection begins at a specific time, but the first void at that time is typically discarded, and then all subsequent urine for 24 hours is collected.
- D. Preservatives, if required, are usually pre-added to the container or added at the beginning of the collection, not after each urination, to maintain a consistent concentration.
24-Hour Urine Specimen Collection
A method of collecting all urine produced over a 24-hour period to measure the total amount of specific substances excreted by the kidneys.
- Discard first morning void on day 1; note time.
- Collect all subsequent voids for 24 hours.
- Include first morning void on day 2.
- Keep specimen refrigerated or on ice.
- Avoid contamination with stool or toilet paper.
Memory trick: Start with a Toss, Collect All, Keep It Cold