IMPORTANT CHANGES IN URINALYSIS TESTING:
NEW URINALYSIS PRESERVATIVE TUBES

Urinalysis requires that specimens be processed in a timely fashion to avoid degradation of the specimen.  The importance of this requirement is demonstrated by the JCAHO standard that requires the laboratory to process only "fresh" specimens.  This is challenging in many settings because of the distance from the lab and transport schedules.

Product Description

Peoplesoft Name	TUBE URINE PRESERVATIVE NOT FOR C&S
Vendor	Owens and Minor
Peoplesoft Number	114758
Unit of Measure	1 bag of 100 tubes

Please also note that these new preservative tubes have an expiration date and per usual lab policy, specimens sent in expired tubes will be refused. Specimens sent for urinalysis testing in non-preservative tubes will be processed per usual.  However, specimen processing will adhere to the following acceptance criteria. Non-Preservative tubes received > 8 hours after collection will be processed with a disclaimer indicating that the collect to receipt time was greater than 8 hours and that some parameters may be affected. Non-Preservative tubes with no collection time will be processed with a disclaimer indicating that there was no collection time and that some parameters may be affected. Non-Preservative tubes received > 24 hours after collection will not be processed. Preservative tubes will be processed up to 48 hours. VERY IMPORTANT:  these tubes are to be used for urinalysis and urine sediment testing ONLY and must NOT be used to send specimens to microbiology for urine culture or to chemistry, immunology, or any other lab for other urine testing (urine sodium, potassium, urine Bence Jones, etc.).   If the urinalysis preservative tubes are sent to these other labs the testing will be refused. Reminder: Collection time must be recorded on the requisition. Refer questions to: Debera Grzybek at 617 726-3609 or Dr. Anand Dighe at 617 726-7902.