Every expectant mother should know how to collect urine for analysis. Compliance with the rules will allow you to correctly determine the presence of possible pathologies and save time by eliminating repeated retakes in case of incorrect collection of biological fluid.
You can donate urine for research in a clinic or in a private laboratory. For this, the gynecologist issues a special form to the pregnant woman, which indicates the data of the woman, the expected gestational age and the type of analysis. The referral is attached to the container with urine upon delivery to the laboratory.
Observe hygiene.
Some future mothers neglect the thorough hygiene of the external genital organs immediately before collecting urine for analysis. And in vain: you can get distorted results. For example, a lab may detect an increased number of white blood cells, which actually enter the urine from the vagina and not from the urinary tract. Therefore, before collecting urine, it is important to thoroughly rinse the external genitalia with warm tap water, dry with a towel and insert a tampon into the vagina.
Adjust diet if necessary.
Before collecting urine for analysis, it is not recommended to eat brightly colored foods, such as beets or strawberries. This can hinder the study or distort its results. In general, it is recommended to take the biomaterial on an empty stomach so that the pH of the urine is in the physiological range. It is also desirable to limit the intake of salt and certain medications. For the latter, you should consult your doctor.
Use a special container.
Biomaterial should be collected in a special sterile container. Do not use washed glass jars for this, for example, from baby food, as the results of the study may be distorted. Now in any pharmacy you can buy a container for analyzes with a screw cap. It has the right size, and the lid allows you not to worry that the biomaterial will spill during transportation.
Take the middle portion.
It is recommended to collect an average portion of urine for analysis. To do this, urinate into the toilet for 2-3 seconds and then δΈ€ into the container. Most often, 50-70 ml of urine is enough for research.
Deliver analysis on time.
It is not worth storing urine at home for a long time, even in the refrigerator. According to the general rules, it is desirable to deliver it to the laboratory within 3 hours after collection in order to avoid obtaining unreliable results.
Prevent foam formation.
Try not to shake the urine container during transport. This can lead to foam formation and incorrect test results.