Medical Assistants are responsible for properly collecting, handling, and processing urine specimens for urinalysis. Proper technique ensures accurate results and prevents contamination or rejected samples.

 

 

📚 Resources Needed

  • besa EHR
  • Urine collection cups
  • Urinalysis test strips (if in-office testing)
  • Gloves
  • Labels
  • Uranalysis Form
  • LabCorp supplies (if sending out)

 

🚀 Tips & Tricks

  • Always instruct patients on a clean catch — this reduces contamination.
     
  • Label specimens immediately after collection while with the patient.
     
  • If performing in-office testing, read results within the correct time window for accuracy.
     
  • Make sure lids are tightly secured to prevent leaks.

 

 

📘 Instructions

Be sure to follow the steps listed below.

Patient Instructions (Clean Catch Collection)

Provide the patient with a urine collection cup.

Instruct the patient to:

  • Wash or sanitize hands
  • Clean the genital area (if wipes are provided)
  • Begin urinating into the toilet
  • Collect midstream urine in the cup
  • Secure the lid tightly when finished
  • Put urine cup inside the larger LabCorp cup with lid

⚠️ Emphasize midstream collection to avoid contamination.

 

Receiving the Specimen

Put on gloves before handling specimen.

Ensure the lid is secure and no leakage is present.

Confirm the specimen belongs to the correct patient.

 

Labeling Specimen

Label the specimen immediately.

Ensure label includes:

  • Patient full name
  • Date of birth
  • Date and time of collection

⚠️ Do NOT leave specimen unlabeled.

 

Performing Urinalysis (If In-Office Testing)

  1. Using a pipette, draw some urine and evenly spread over the Urinalysis test strip.
  2. Wait the required time per test strip instructions.
  3. Compare results to reference chart.
  4. Complete the Urinalysis report using results from reference chart
  5. Document results in besa EHR.

⚠️ Reading too early or too late can cause inaccurate results.

 

Preparing for LabCorp (If Sending Out)

  1. Ensure specimen is properly labeled.

  2. Using the urine vacutainer, transfer the urine to the uranalysis vial. 

    ⚠️ Urine Vacutainer: Make sure the straw is placed in the urine cup. Collect the sample in the gray-top tube first, followed by the red/yellow-top tube.


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  3. Complete lab requisition.
  4. Place specimen in appropriate LabCorp packaging.
  5. Follow specimen handling SOP for pickup coordination.

 

Storage (If Needed)

Store specimen per protocol.

Ensure specimen is secure and organized.

 

Final Check

Before completing process, confirm:

  • Specimen is labeled correctly
  • Testing is completed or specimen is packaged
  • Results are documented (if applicable)

⚠️ Improper handling may result in inaccurate results or rejected specimens.

 

Done!