Urine should be collected in a sterile plastic or glass bottle.
The bottle can be sterilized by washing it with soap & water and then by boiling it in water for 10 minutes.
Urine sample should be mid-stream i.e. the initial small quantity of urine should be discarded and the remaining sample to be collected in the sterile bottle.
First or second urine sample should be collected.
Urine sample collected should be delivered to the laboratory within 1 hour of collection. If the time exceeds then the bottle should be kept in a bag containing ice cubes until delivered.
Urine for fasting sugar should be collected in fasting condition.

Stool sample for microscopic examination should be collected in a sterile wide mouth plastic or glass bottle.
Patient need not be fasting as stool sample can be collected at any time of the day.
Sample in the case of diarrhea should be delivered as soon as possible.
The quantity of the sample need not be in excess.

For infants, the blood for analysis should be collected prior to feed, as milky & turbid serum interferes with certain testing.
Serum should be stored or preserved by separating it after the blood clots and is kept in a sterile tube, bottle, which should be kept in deep freeze until delivered to the lab.
Blood for CBC and sugar examination to be delivered to the lab immediately after collection.
Fasting sample in children is usually not required unless specially asked for (fasting blood sugar, triglycerides etc).

Also See "Frequently Asked Questions On Stool tests"

Last created on 08-12-2000
Last updated on 01-07-2006