Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 22

Briefly discuss five methods for preserving urine specimens, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Step 1 of 6

Preservation of specimen:

• Urine is preserved in various methods like refrigeration and adding preservatives.

• Preserving a specimen is significant for urine analysis.

Methods to preserve urine specimens:

• Refrigeration

• Boric acid

• Formalin (formaldehyde)

• Sodium fluoride

• Commercial preservative tablets

Refrigeration:

• It is the process of freezing or keeping the specimen in low temperatures to prevent pathogenic growth.

• For 24 hours it prevents bacterial growth.

Advantages:

• Interference with chemical test does not occur.

Disadvantages:

• Refrigerated specimen forms amorphous phosphates and urates precipitation.