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 medical assistant provide regarding the first void of the collection period?
- AUrinate directly into the toilet for the entire 24 hours.
- BDiscard the first void and note the time.
- CCollect the first void in the collection container.
- DSave only the first void and discard subsequent samples.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Discard the first void and note the time.
For a 24-hour urine collection, the first void of the collection period is discarded. This ensures that the collection starts with an empty bladder, making the subsequent 24 hours of urine a true representation of the body's output over that specific period.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This instruction is incorrect and would result in no specimen being collected.
- C. Collecting the first void would include urine accumulated before the 24-hour period truly begins.
- D. This is incorrect; all urine collected over the 24-hour period, except the initial void, should be saved.
24-Hour Urine Collection Start
The correct initiation of a 24-hour urine collection involves discarding the first morning void and noting the time to mark the precise beginning of the collection period.
- Discard first void.
- Note the exact time.
- Collect all subsequent urine for 24 hours.
Memory trick: Timed Collection Needs Exact Start