MEDICAL Services
ELLIOT HOSPITAL LABORATORY
Home Help for Specimen Collections
Urine Collection for Urinalysis or Culture
The clean catch is the preferred method for collection of urine for urinalysis or culture.
Specimen Handling:
• Urine specimen should be brought to the laboratory immediately after collection or placed in a refrigerator to prevent specimen deterioration and altered test results.
• If refrigerated the entire time, specimen is testable for 24 hours.
• Label the container with your Last Name, First Name, Date of Birth, Date and Time of Collection, Physician Name.
• Deliver the specimen to anyone of our Patient Care Centers along with any paperwork your physician may have given to you
• You will first need to register so please do not drop off your specimen and leave .
Directions For Male Patients :
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, rinse and dry them on a disposable paper towel.
• Retract the foreskin completely. Cleanse the tip of the penis with towelettes.
• Open container, careful not to touch the inside or the rim of the container.
• Begin to urinate into toilet. Void approximately 20-25 ml or (½ ounce), then stop the stream and catch the middle portion of the urine in the container.
• Screw the cap tightly onto the container.
• Place container in the specimen bag.
• Label the container immediately with last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, physician name and transport to the laboratory along with the doctor's order.
• You will need to register with admissions for proper billing.
Directions For Female Patients :
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, rinse and dry them on disposable paper towel.
• Open towelettes and the container, careful not to touch the rim or inside of the container.
• To cleanse the periurethral area (labial folds, vulva, urethral meatus) spread the labia with one hand, wipe the area three times front to back, each time with a fresh towelette: one- right side / two- left side / three- down the middle Discard the towelettes after each cleansing.
• Begin to urinate into the toilet. Void approximately 20-25 ml (½ ounce) then stop the stream and catch the middle portion of the urine in the container. Do not touch the legs, vulva or clothing with the cup.
• Screw the cap tightly onto the container.
• Place container in the specimen bag.
• Label the container immediately with your last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, physician name and transport to the laboratory along with the doctor's order.
• You will need to register with admissions for proper billing.
Specimen Handling:
• Your doctor has ordered a 24-hour urine collection for testing
• You will be given a large collection jug. Upon request, a “toilet hat” can be used to assist in the collection. This hat is placed between the toilet seat and the rim.
• Label the container with your Last Name, First Name, Date of Birth, Date and Time of Collection, Physician Name.
• The sample should be kept cold during collection. You may place the container in an iced – bucket or cooler.
• Deliver the specimen to any one of our Patient Care Centers along with any paperwork your physician may have given to you
• You will first need to register so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.
To Start:
• Collect every drop of your urine produced during a 24-hour period.
• Begin the collection in the morning or at a time specified by your physician.
• At that specified time, pass your 1 st urine, flush it down the toilet, and note the exact time.
• Thereafter, collect every single drop of urine during the day and night.
• The very next morning, exactly 24 hours from the start time, you should empty your bladder and add that urine to the collection jug. The collection is now complete.
• There should be no more than a 5 to 10 minute variation between the start and stop time.
• If you find that you must urinate an hour or so before the designated stop time, go ahead and do so and add the collection jug. Then drink a full glass of water so that you can urinate again one last time at the designated stop time.
• Deliver the sample to the laboratory within 24 hours for testing.
• You will need to register with admissions for proper billing.
Colon Cancer Screening (Stool Cards – Hemoccult / Occult)
Special Diet:
Two days prior to and including the test period, a red meat free, high residue diet should be followed.
• Meats: Only small amounts of well-cooked chicken, turkey, and tuna.
• Vegetables: Generous amounts of both cooked and uncooked vegetables, including lettuce, corn, spinach, and celery, except as noted below.
• Fruits: Plenty of fruits, especially prunes, grapes, plums, and apples.
• Cereal: Bran and bran-containing cereals.
• Other high fiber or roughage foods (i.e. peanuts, popcorn, etc.)
Avoid:
Meat: Diet should not include any red or rare meat.
Horseradish, cantaloupe, raw turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, red radishes, and parsnip.
Medications: Do not ingest high doses of aspirin, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, for 7 days prior to and during testing, or vitamin preparations that contain Vitamin C in excess of 250 mg per day for 2 days prior to and during the testing.
Additional Notes:
Do not collect specimen during a menstrual period or when suffering from bleeding hemorrhoids or open cuts on hands.
Protect card from heat and light.
Semen Analysis Collection & Transport:
Your doctor has requested that the following test be completed. In order to ensure the most accurate results and avoid repeat collection, please follow closely these steps for collection and transport.
Testing Availability:
Semen analysis for both Fertility and Post-Vasectomy are offered Monday through Friday, 7am - 11am by appointment only. This testing is not done on weekends, holidays or hours other than those specified. Please call (603) 663-3555 to schedule the test.
Specimen Container:
A clean, dry, wide-mouth glass or hard plastic container such as a sterile urine container may be used. A sheath, which is intended to be used specifically for the collection of the seminal fluid, may be used as an alternative collection container.
Period of Abstinence:
Ideally, the patient should abstain from any sexual activity for 48-72 hours before collection. This includes abstaining from masturbation. Periods of less then 48 hours can result in decreased sperm concentration with a decrease in motile and viable forms.
Specimen Collection:
The specimen should be obtained by masturbation. Tightly seal the lid of the glass or hard plastic container after the entire sample has been delivered. If a Milex seminal pouch is used, use in the same manner as a conventional condom.
Funnel design permits ready adjustment to the erect penis. Place supplied elastic over the glans penis: elastic will not constrict the penis and performs the double function of preventing the pouch from slipping off and collecting all of the ejaculate in the lower end. The specimen should be obtained by masturbation with the Milex seminal pouch in place.
After removal, concentrate semen in the tip of the pouch. Tightly wrap the elastic around the end of the pouch as you would when tying off a balloon.
Notes:
Ordinary condoms must not be used as they contain a spermicidal and make the semen unacceptable for analysis.
Lubricants of any kind should be avoided since most have spermicidal properties.
Care must be taken to include the entire specimen. Loss of the first portion may result in a decreased sperm count because this fraction normally contains the highest concentration of spermatozoa.
Specimens should be obtained by masturbation and not by coitus interruptus (withdrawal).
Label the container immediately with last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, physician name and transport to the laboratory along with the doctor's order. You will need to register with admissions for proper billing.
Elliot Hospital Laboratory Semen Analysis
Patient name: ___________________
Date of Birth: ____________________
Wife/Partner Name: _______________
Physician: ______________________
Days of abstinence: _______________
Date and time of specimen collection: _________________________
Method of collection: Masturbation yes: _____ Other: ______________
Was any specimen lost in collection? Yes: __________ No: ________
If yes, which portion was lost? Beginning: ___________ End: _______
