Following some simple instructions will prevent things from being observed in the samples we take to the laboratory that should not be there, such as blood, fungi, bacteria…
In the public laboratory that is in charge of analyzing the biological samples of patients in the Salamanca health area, some 2,000 requests are dealt with every day. Of these, about a third are urine samples. Make numbers and calculate the number of people who, every day in Spain, have to bring a sample of their urine to be analyzed.
But After almost 20 years of professional practice, I can assure you that a good part of these samples will not reach the laboratory in good condition.. So that this does not happen to you the next time you are asked for a urine test, I encourage you to continue reading. I approve it with a note.
What are the most common errors?
The most common is an error at the time of collecting the urine that ends up contaminating the samplefollowed by a bad handling or conservation of it. Of course, if we deposit it in an inappropriate container, the result will not be reliable. No, a jar of jam or a tupperware are useless, no matter how much we have disinfected them before. we will use the sterile container that they give us in the health center or we will buy one at the pharmacy.
What consequences can they have?
These mistakes can have major consequences for your health. Mainly because in The results obtained in the laboratory show things that did not have to be there, such as blood, fungi, bacteria… Elements that we do not have in our urine but we do have in the sample delivered, and that will cause us, for example, to prescribe a treatment that we do not need or ask us for more medical tests that would not be necessary either.
Keys for a good collection of the sample in adults
Here is the step by step of how to do it with details by genre:
- In the previous hourswe will avoid having sexual relations and perform very intense physical activities.
- will pick up the first morning urine. Previously we wash our hands and then we will wash the genitals with soap and water, drying with small touches from front to back.
- Women should separate the labia majora with the free hand.
- Men should pull back the foreskin before starting to urinate.
- We started to pee we let a good squirt through and then we urinate inside the container. The last part of the urination will not be picked up either.
- Must avoid at all times that the genitals touch the containerand we will not touch the inside of the boat with our hands either.
Keys for a good collection of the sample in babies
In the smaller ones, there are other ‘tricks’ to do it correctly:
- We will clean the genital area with water and soap. Then we will dry carefully.
- we will use a special bag with adhesive that will be delivered to us at the health center. In the case of girls, we will stick it around the outer lips. In children we will introduce the genitals into the bag. We can then put the diaper on without problem.
- We will monitor the bag every half hourand as soon as it urinates we will remove it and take it to the laboratory in the same bag.
- If after an hour with the bag attached you have not urinated, it is recommended put a new one to avoid contamination.
What if I get up at night to urinate?
It is recommended to always collect the first urine in the morning. But if we have woken up at dawn to go to the bathroom, then we must wait at least two or three hours after the last urine.
I am on my period, can I collect the urine sample?
The recommended thing is wait a few days for it to stop to avoid altering the sampleunless it is urgently needed. In that case, don’t forget to let us know when you deliver it.
Is it necessary to fill the bottle?
No not at all. Actually in the laboratory they do not need large amounts of sample, but if it can be mediated much better.
The sample is already collected, now what?
should deliver it to the laboratory or health center in about two or three hours, being able to keep it all that time at room temperature. If it is going to take longer, you should keep it in the fridge, at a temperature between 2C and 6C.
Do I have to wrap it in foil?
It is not uncommon to see samples wrapped in aluminum foil, but it is not required unless stated to be so. What we must do is avoid direct sunlight or place it near a heat source because it could deteriorate.
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