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What you need to do or not do before
going to the Laboratory
Lipids:
Fast for 12 hours
Sedimentation Rate:
Fast 6-8 hours (preferable)
Fasting Blood
Sugar: Consume meal and take medication (if any) in
10 minutes. Absolute fast for 2 hours from start of the meal
Arrive at the lab 15 minutes ahead of schedule
Urine for
Pregnancy: first morning urine (preferable), provided
there was no fluid consumption the night before. If result
is Negative, a pregnancy blood test is suggested since it is
more sensitive.
Urine Culture:
Refrain from antibiotics for at least 48 hours before
test. Wash hands and genitals well with warm water &
soap. Disinfect urine outlet with Dettol. Wash disinfectant
away with water only. Urinate first drop into toilet bowl
then remainder in the sterilized jar provided. In case urine
sample is sent, make sure it arrives at the lab within two
hours at the latest.
24 hr Urine
collection: Immediately upon waking up in the
morning urinate in the toilet bowl and record the time.
Following this and through to the next day, collect each
drop of urine at the same time (24 hours). Keep urine
refrigerated.
3 consecutive days
Urine collection: Must be first morning urine and
must be sent separately to the lab each day.
3 consecutive days'
Sputum: Before eating in the morning, rinse mouth
several times with water and provide first sputum.
Saliva samples are not accepted. Samples must be sent
separately to the lab on the same day. Inhalation of steam
from hot water in the morning aids in providing sample.
Semen Analysis:
Total abstention from intercourse or masturbation for
4 consecutive days. Sample must be given in the lab,
ensuring that the first drop of semen is placed in the
specified bottle. No accompaniment inside the toilet
is allowed during sampling.
Prostate & Penis
Smear: Refrain from antibiotics for at least 48 hours
before test. Urine must be retained one hour prior to the
test.
Pap Smear:
Refrain from antibiotics for at least 48 hours before test.
Refrain from intercourse for 2 days. Refrain from washing
coitus on day of test.
Stool Culture:
Refrain from antibiotics for at least 48 hours before
test. Sample must be received by the lab within 2 hours at
the latest. Samples received in children's Pampers are not
acceptable.
Invisible blood in
stool (Occult blood): 48 hours before the test,
patient must refrain from consuming all kinds of meat,
turnips, medication for rheumatism, any medication
containing Aspirin, Vitamin C, Cortisone or Lead as well as
any laxatives.
Asthma & Epilepsy
Drugs: Medication must be taken regularly for 5 days
at least, provided there is no vomiting or diarrhea for 48
hours before the test. The first drop of blood is taken
immediately before the morning dose and the second after
several hours from the dose.
Iron: Fast
for 6-8 hours. Arrive at the lab on the morning after
end of menstrual cycle and prior to start of treatment with
iron or blood transfusion.
Drugs & Steroid
Levels: Urine is placed in a clean, dry container.
This should preferably be done in the lab, in a tight
room with no source of water to prevent the addict from
adding water to the urine. Extreme caution is to be
exercised to prevent the patient from switching his sample
with another that may have been smuggled into the lab.
In case of a sample being sent to the lab,
the urine is to be preserved in the refrigerator for a
maximum of 48 hours until it reaches the lab. After 48
hours, the urine is to be frozen in the freezer then sent to
the lab on ice.
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