Sterile Collection Cup.
Urine
8.0 mL
Specification After DrawMixing:
The specimen should be gently mixed before the microscopic analysis is performed to ensure any formed elements (cells, casts, etc.) are uniformly distributed [.
Time Sensitivity: This is the most crucial specification: the test must be performed within one to two hours of collection .
Temperature/Storage: If analysis is delayed, the specimen must be refrigerated at $2-8^C for up to 24 hours .
**Impact of Delay: Analyzing urine that is at room temperature for over 2 hours can lead to:
*Disintegration of casts and cells (especially red blood cells) .
*Bacterial overgrowth, which falsifies the bacterial count and can raise the pH .
*Crystal formation, as salts precipitate out, obscuring true pathology.
Labeling: The container must be labeled with the patient’s full name, date of birth, and the date and exact time of collection
Gray-top urine tubes,
Specimens unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours,
Specimens with visible fecal contamination,
24-hour urine collections
REFRIGERATED
Sun-Sat
Same day
REFERENCE
Urine microscopy
Urine microscope
Urine microscopic
Microscopic urine
Microscopic, Urine
Urine microscopy only
UA
urinalysis
Test
Interference
Contamination:
**Vaginal Discharge: In female patients, contamination with menstrual blood, yeast, or mucus can obscure findings .
**Fecal Matter: Can introduce contaminants that interfere with microscopy.
**Hand Soap: Can interfere with chemical components of the urinalysis strip (which is often performed simultaneously).
Medications/Diet: Certain drugs (e.g., high doses of Vitamin C) can interfere with the chemical strip portion of the urinalysis, though they typically do not directly interfere with microscopy unless they cause excessive crystal formation.
Specific Gravity: Highly dilute urine (low specific gravity) increases the risk of cell and cast lysis (breakdown)
Miscellaneous Instruction to Collector
Clean Catch Procedure: The collector must provide clear instructions for the patient to clean the genital area and collect a midstream sample to minimize external contamination .
Timeliness: Emphasize the importance of immediate transport to the lab to ensure the integrity of the cells and casts.
Volume: A sufficient volume (typically at least 10–15 mL, though lab-specific volume may be lower) is needed to allow for both the chemical strip test and the subsequent centrifugation for microscopic sediment analysis
