Urine and Stool Collection

Urine Collection

The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic initiated a study to determine stability of analytes under different preservative conditions. The following Urine Preservatives Chart, built from that study, enables you to select either temperature conditions or preservatives to maximize the number of tests that can be performed on a single 24-hour collection.

Urine Preservatives Chart

updated 4/24/2012

Click the image to open.

The conditions and concentrations of urine preservatives are defined for 24-hour collections as follows:

Ambient	Room temperature (21°- 25° C)
Refrigerated	4° C
Frozen	-20° C
6N HCI	30 mL per 24-hour collection
50% Acetic Acid (Supply #T008)	25 mL per 24-hour collection
Na2CO3 (crystals) (Supply #T272)	5 g per 24-hour collection
Toluene	30 mL per 24-hour collection
6N HNO3	15 mL per 24-hour collection
Boric Acid (crystals) (Supply #T473)	10 g per 24-hour collection
Thymol (10% isopropanol)	10 mL per 24-hour collection

Preservative and condition guidelines have been evaluated specifically
for Mayo Medical Laboratories assays.

Stool Collection

Containers and Transport

Special containers and 100mL white polypropylene aliquot containers for the collection and processing of fecal specimens are supplied by Mayo medical Laboratories.

Refer to the Test Catalog for specific test information.

Container Label and Required Information

1. Each container has the following label affixed:


2. At the time the container is given to the patient:
   1. Fill in the patient name
   2. Review the test to be done and specimen requirements with the patient
   • Collection duration
   • Diet requirements
   • Collection and storage of the specimen until it is returned to you
   • Four Mayo Medical Laboratories containers should be provided for a timed collection
   • One aliquot container should be provided for a random collection
   • Provide patient with information on how to obtain additional containers from you should that be necessary
   3. Instruct patient not to fill any container more than 3/4 full (to the indicated line on the label)
3. At the time the patient returns the container to you, complete the following information on the label:
   1. Duration of collection should have the appropriate box checked. If timed duration is other than those listed, please list it on the Other line.
   2. Indicate if the entire collection is contained in one container or in multiple containers. Indicate total number of containers sent.
   3. Label each container with the Mayo Medical Laboratories' Control Number sticker from the appropriate request form.

Resources

To assist in proper 24-hour urine and stool collection, Mayo Medical Laboratories provides comprehensive instructions in both English and Spanish. Collection containers are also available.

24-Hour Urine Collection 24-hour Urine Collection Instructions (English) T506 24-hour Urine Collection Instructions (Spanish) T510 Labeled 24-hour Urine Collection Bottle T309
Stool Collection Stool Collection Instructions (English) T508 Stool Collection Instructions (Spanish) T511 Stool Collection Kit (English) T291