American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

What is the proper start and end procedure for a 24-hour urine collection?

1. The patient voids into the toilet and starts the timing with an empty bladder collecting all subsequent samples

2. The patient collects the first void and starts timing immediately

3. The patient can void any time during the 24-hour period without special instructions

4. The patient must not urinate for the entire 24-hour period

The correct answer is: The patient voids into the toilet and starts the timing with an empty bladder collecting all subsequent samples

The correct procedure for a 24-hour urine collection begins with the patient voiding into the toilet to ensure that the bladder is empty at the start of the collection. This initial void is discarded, and timing begins after this point. The subsequent urine samples are then collected over the next 24 hours, including all voids during this time. This method is critical because it provides a baseline by ensuring that any urine collected thereafter reflects the full 24-hour period, without skewing the results with any residual urine that may have been present in the bladder before the start of the collection. This procedure is designed to obtain an accurate measurement of substances in the urine, as it standardizes the collection process. Starting with an empty bladder ensures that the patient’s results reflect only the urine produced within that specific 24-hour timeframe, allowing for reliable and consistent assessments in clinical settings.