NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient on the proper collection of a 24-hour urine specimen. Which of the following instructions is essential for the patient to follow?
- ADrink at least 4 liters of water during the collection period.
- BStore the collection container at room temperature.
- CDiscard the first voided urine of the collection period.
- DCollect the first morning urine on the day the collection begins.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Discard the first voided urine of the collection period.
To ensure an accurate 24-hour collection, the first voided urine of the collection period (e.g., first morning urine) should be discarded. This marks the *start* of the 24-hour period, and all subsequent urine for the next 24 hours, including the first void of the next morning, is collected.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Drinking excessive water can dilute the specimen and interfere with accurate measurement; normal hydration is usually recommended.
- B. 24-hour urine specimens should typically be kept refrigerated or on ice to prevent degradation of analytes.
- D. Collecting the first morning urine would make the collection period longer than 24 hours and is incorrect.
24-Hour Urine Collection
A method of collecting all urine produced over a full 24-hour period to measure the total amount of certain substances excreted by the kidneys, providing a comprehensive assessment of renal function.
- Crucial for measuring substances like creatinine, protein, hormones.
- Discard the first void; collect all subsequent urine for 24 hours.
- Keep specimen refrigerated to preserve analytes.
- Missed collections invalidate the entire sample.
Memory trick: 24-HOUR Rule: Hurl First, Observe All, Understand Timing, Refrigerate.