F.A.Q

Required period of sexual abstinence:

If the test is for checking fertility, you must not have any ejaculations (either intercourse or masturbation) for 2-5 days, before the day you collect your specimen. If the time since your last ejaculation has been less than 2 days or more than 5 days, you must not collect the specimen, as the fertility test results may not be accurate.

If the test is for checking post vasectomy sperm count, collect the specimen according to your physician’s instructions.

Collection of the specimen:

You may collect the specimen at the laboratory in a locked bathroom, or you may collect it at home. Follow these collection directions:

• If you are collecting the specimen at the Laboratory,

1. Collecting the specimen at the laboratory allows us to handle the specimen properly and begin testing immediately.
2. You must arrive at the laboratory before 8.30 am to allow us enough time to process the specimen.
3. Proceed as per points 3-6 below.

• If you are collecting the specimen at home,

1. Obtain a sterile plastic cup from the laboratory the day before the collection.
2. Plan the time you collect your specimen so that you will be able to deliver it to the laboratory within half an hour of the time of collection, and before 8.30 am.
3. Collect the specimen directly into the container. The sample must not be collected in a condom because condoms normally contain spermicidal agents, which may kill the sperm.
4. The sample may be obtained either by masturbation or interrupted intercourse after the required period of sexual abstinence. Masturbation is preferred because interrupted intercourse may result in the loss of the first portion of the ejaculate, which may cause erroneous test results.
5. Make sure to collect all the ejaculate. Loss of any part of the specimen will lead to incorrect results.
6. Label the specimen container with the following information:
7. First and last name.
8. Date and time specimen was collect
9. The sample must be protected from cold, heat and sunlight. Keep the specimen at normal room temperature or body temperature. This can be done by keeping the specimen cup between your legs or close to the body during transport.
10. Make sure the lid is screwed on the container tightly! If the container leaks during transport, the specimen must be collected again after the required period of abstinence.
11. Deliver the specimen within half an hour of collection to the laboratory by you or your partner. (Please remember that the time required for you to pull up your trousers, leave the house, get in the car, and drive to the laboratory MUST be included in the half hour.)
12. Don’t forget to bring your doctor’s requisition form (request form) with the specimen.

Please note:

Your specimen may not yield accurate results if one or more of the following happens:

1. If it is delivered to the laboratory more than half an hour after collection.
2. If the specimen was exposed to very warm conditions, such as in a car on a hot day, or to very cold conditions, such as if it was put in the refrigerator. Body temperature or normal room temperature is best.
3. If a portion of the specimen is missing, either because it is not collected in the container, or if the container leaks during transport to the laboratory.
4. If the period of sexual abstinence is not within 2-5 days.

Please note that you do not need to be fasting when giving a stool sample.

1. Do not take any antacids, oily laxatives, or anti-diarrheal medication before collecting the specimen unless directed to do so by your physician.

Do not urinate on the specimen or in the collection container.

1. The stool should be passed into a clean, dry Use a bed pan or place a large plastic bag into a waste basket to catch the specimen. A clean screw-cap tub (such as a “halawe” tub) or a clean wide-mouth jar can also be used. The stool sample must not be contaminated with urine or water. If collecting from a child in a diaper, line diaper with plastic wrap, do not send diaper.
2. Please note that the laboratory only needs a small amount of stool for the test (about 3-5 gms. only). Do not send a large quantity of stool.
3. Pass the rest of the stool specimen into the toilet.
4. Close the collection container tightly.
5. Label the container with the patient’s full name, date of birth and the collection date and time.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly.
7. Deliver the stool sample to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection. The specimen must not be subjected to heat or sunlight during transportation to the laboratory.
8. Don’t forget to bring your doctor’s requisition form (request form) with the specimen.

The following instructions are for collecting 24 hrs urine specimen or other timed urine specimen:

1. You must obtain a large 24 hrs container and a small urine collection container from the laboratory before you start your urine collection. Make sure that the large container has been labeled with the patient’s name and date of birth.
2. For your physician to receive accurate results on your tests, you must collect ALL of the urine you produce for the entire collection period. Incomplete collections may result in inaccurate test results.
3. Do not exceed your normal intake of liquids or change your dietary habits during the day before and the day of your collection unless your physician gives you specific instructions to do otherwise. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
4. It is imperative that all urine be collected and placed into the large container. If any of the urine is lost or discarded during the collection interval, the entire collection process must be started over. When urinating, use the smaller clean urine collection container to collect your urine. Pour each specimen into the large collection container. DO NOT VOID DIRECTLY INTO THE LARGE CONTAINER.
5. Start the timed collection at a convenient time, such as 7:00 a.m. Discard the first specimen since the urine was formed prior to collection period. Collect all urine during the time period (i.e. 24 hrs, 12 hrs, 5 hrs, 2 hour, etc. whichever has been requested by your physician). When you reach the end of the collection time period, (even if you do not feel the need to urinate) empty your bladder completely and include this sample to complete the collection.
6. During the timed collection period, the specimen container(s) should be kept refrigerated. Label the large collection container with date and time at the start and end of collection.
7. Make sure the collection container is tightly closed and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection is complete. Don’t forget to bring your doctor’s requisition form (request form) with the specimen.
8. Please do not leave the laboratory without speaking to one of our phlebotomists. Some tests require a blood sample to accompany the timed urine specimen.

The best specimen to collect is the first morning urine. But if this is not possible, a sample of urine that has been sitting in the bladder for more than 2 hours is acceptable. You do not need to be fasting for a urine test.

• Instructions for Female Patients:

You will be given some clean cotton gauze, a small bottle of antiseptic cleaner and a sterile urine cup by the laboratory.

1. Remove undergarments and wash hands very well.
2. Open the sterile urine cup and place it within your reach.
3. Soak at least 3 or 4 pieces of the gauze with antiseptic cleaner. Keep at least one piece of gauze dry.
4. Spread your labia with one hand, and keep them continuously apart until the urine is voided into the cup.
5. Take some cotton gauze dripping with antiseptic cleaner, wipe the vulva from front to back only once, and discard the used gauze
6. Repeat the “front-to-back” wash 2-3 more times with the remaining gauze, discarding each piece of gauze after one use.
7. Wipe vulva with the dry piece of gauze to prevent contaminating the specimen with antiseptic cleaner.
8. Take the cup in the other hand without touching the inner surface.
9. Urinate 20-25 ml into the toilet and catch a portion of the rest of the urine in the cup without stopping the stream. Do not touch the vulva, or clothing with the cup.
10. Put the lid on the cup and close it tightly.
11. The specimen must be delivered to the laboratory within one hour and must not be subjected to heat or sunlight during transportation.
12. Don’t forget to bring your doctor’s requisition form (request form) with the specimen.

• Instructions for Male Patients:

You will be given some clean cotton gauze, a small bottle of antiseptic cleaner and a sterile urine cup by the laboratory

1. Wash hands very well.
2. Open the sterile urine cup and place it within your reach.
3. Retract the foreskin completely and cleanse the glans penis (the head of the penis) very well with a piece of gauze soaked with antiseptic cleaner.
4. Remove surplus antiseptic cleaner with a dry piece of gauze.
5. Urinate 20-25 ml into the toilet and catch a portion of the remaining urine in the cup without stopping the stream. Do not touch the cup with the penis
6. Put the lid on the cup and close it tightly.
7. The specimen must be delivered to the laboratory within one hour and must not be subjected to heat or sunlight during transportation.
8. Don’t forget to bring your doctor’s requisition form (request form) with the specimen.

Fasting:

Since many blood tests (such as glucose and cholesterol) require you to be fasting, while other tests do not, the general recommendation is that you should be on a fast of 8-10 hrs. Fasting means nothing to eat, drink (except water), smoke or chew during these 8-10 hours. Furthermore, if your blood test includes “Triglycerides”, then you should be on a fast of 12-15 hours.

You do not have to be fasting before collection of a urine specimen, a stool specimen, a semen specimen, or a specimen for routine bacteriological culture (such as a throat culture, a wound culture, a nail culture or a urethral/vaginal culture)

Medication:

The best person to answer this question is your doctor. But generally speaking, it depends on the type of medication you are taking and the reason for doing the laboratory test. Here are some examples:

• If you are doing the laboratory test in order to measure the level of the medication in your body with the purpose of adjusting the dosage, such as Lithium (Camcolit), Valproic acid (Depakin), Carbamazepin (Tegretol), Lamotrigine (Lamictal), Topiramate (Topamax) or Phenytoin (Epanutin), then you should take your medicine 10-12 hrs before the test.

• If your test consists of a bacteriological culture, then you should not be taking antibiotics for at least 5 days before the culture is performed (unless your physician insists on doing the culture anyway).

• If you are taking an anticoagulant, such as Sintrom or Comadin, you must continue taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor. You should not stop taking it on the day of (or the day before) the test.

• Vitamins, pain killers or herbal treatments will not normally affect your test unless they contain sugars or fats. If they do, stop taking them 8-10 hrs before your blood test. If you are taking vitamin C, you should stop doing so 24 hrs before the test.