KV Healthcare

Sample Collection

Fasting

If you are asked to fast for a test procedure, DO NOT eat or drink fluids for 12 hours. Caffeine and sugar will affect your test results. You may have small sips of water.

Post Vasectomy Check

  1. A sterile container for collection will be provided by the laboratory or physician’s office. Specimens collected in a condom will NOT be accepted.
  2. The specimen should be collected via masturbation without the aid of lubricants.
  3. Label the container with your name, time, and date of collection.
  4. Bring to the laboratory.

Semen Analysis

Semen analysis testing is performed in Seattle at Quest Diagnostics Lab. An appointment must be made directly with the Quest Diagnostic Microbiology department 800.877.0051. A completed Quest requisition must accompany the sample. Appointments are available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The patient will need to present for appointment at Quest Diagnostics, 1737 Airport Way, Suite #200, Seattle, WA 98134-1636.

  1. Abstain from sexual activity 48 to 72 hours prior to sample collection. Abstinence should not exceed five days.
  2. A sterile container for collection will be provided by the laboratory or physician’s office.
  3. The specimen should be collected via masturbation without the aid of lubricants.
  4. Be sure to collect the entire sample into the sterile container provided. Incomplete collection may give misleading results.
  5. Label the container with your name, date and time of collection, and hours of abstinence.
  6. The sample needs to be at the laboratory within 30 minutes of collection. The seminal fluid should not come in contact with extreme heat or be agitated during transportation.

For more information please visit www.questdiagnostics.com

Sputum Cytology

Your physician will ask you to collect three early morning sputum specimens for cytology. We will provide you with a kit with three tubes filled with Cytorich Red fixative which will preserve your specimens. Included with the three tubes is a pink requisition which will need to be filled out after collection. The laboratory will help you complete them.

  1. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to remove any food or tobacco particles.
  2. Cough deeply and spit directly into the tube provided. Saliva or nasal discharge is unacceptable.
  3. Replace the screw cap onto the tube and secure tightly.
  4. Gently shake the contents to disperse the sample into the fixative.
  5. Label the tube with your name, date, and time of collection.
  6. You may save each collection until all three samples have been collected. Store at room temperature.
  7. Please return the samples with the pink form to the laboratory.

Stool Collections

General Collection Procedures

Use a thoroughly cleaned bed pan, wide-mouthed container or a plastic bag/plastic wrap placed over the toilet seat for collection. For pediatric patients, use a Pedi-bag for collections. Soiled diapers will NOT be accepted.

  • DO NOT urinate on the specimen or in the collection containers.
  • DO NOT urinate in the sample containers provided.
  • DO NOT pass the specimen directly into the sample containers provided.
  • DO NOT pass the specimen into a toilet.

Occult Blood

Patient Preparation

It is recommended to start a high residue diet starting two days prior to and continuing through the test period.

  • Meats – Only small amounts of well-cooked chicken, turkey, and tuna.
  • Vegetables – Generous amounts of both raw and cooked vegetables including lettuce, corn, spinach, carrots and celery. Avoid raw vegetables with high peroxidase activity like turnip, broccoli, horseradish, cauliflower, parsnip and red radishes.
  • Fruits – Plenty of fruits, especially prunes and apples.
  • Cereals – Bran and bran-containing cereals.
  • Peanuts and Popcorn – Moderate amounts daily.

If any of the above foods are known to cause discomfort, consult your physician. 

Avoid
  • Red or rare meat.
  • Raw fruits and vegetables containing high peroxidase activity: turnip, broccoli, horseradish, cauliflower, cantaloupe, parsnip and red radishes.
Other factors which affect the test
  • Medications – Seven days prior to and during the testing, do not ingest aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines. Two days prior to and during testing, do not use rectal medicines, tonics or vitamin preparations which contain Vitamin C in excess of 250 mg per day.
  • Bleeding hemorrhoids or open cuts on hand.
  • Collection of specimen during menstrual period.
  • Improper specimen collection.
  • Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as colitis, gastritis, diverticulitis and bleeding ulcers.

Specimen Collection

If collecting three samples, collect each on different days.

  1. Write your name, date, and time of collection on the front of the card.
  2. Using the applicator provided, obtain a small sample of stool.
  3. Apply a thin smear to box A.
  4. Obtain a second sample of the stool, from a different location, in the same manner and apply a thin smear to box B.
  5. Dispose of applicator in waste container.
  6. Close and return sample to your physician or laboratory as soon as possible. If the slide is returned by mail, use the foil-back envelope provided. Do not use a standard paper envelope as they are not approved by U.S. Postal Regulations.

C. difficile Molecular Test

Who should be tested: Patients producing 3 or more non-formed stools within 24 hours.

  1. Formed stools should not be submitted and will be rejected. Stool must conform to the container shape to be accepted.
  2. No repeat testing for 7 days.
  3. Repeat testing for confirmation is not required.

Culture: Stool

  1. A Para-Pak C&S stool transport container (orange top) will be provided to you by the laboratory or physician’s office.
  2. Collect using the general collection procedure above.
  3. If possible, avoid the use of antacids, barium, bismuth, anti-diarrheal medication, or oily laxatives prior to collection of the sample.
  4. Select an appropriate area of stool (bloody, slimy, watery) and fill each container to the “fill to here” line using the collection spoon in the cap provided.
  5. Mix the contents of the tube with the spoon, then tighten the cap and shake firmly to insure the specimen is adequately mixed.
  6. Label the container with your name, date, and time of collection.
  7. Return to the laboratory for testing.

H.pylori Ag

  1. A sterile container will be provided by the laboratory or physician office.
  2. Collect using the general collection procedures and put into sterile container.
  3. Return to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible. May be refrigerated up to 72 hrs.

Ova & Parasite (O & P)

  1. A set of Para-Pak buffered neutral formalin & Para-Pak Zn-PVA fixative transport containers (pink & gray tops) will be provided to you by the laboratory or physician’s office.
  2. Collect using the general collection procedure above.
  3. If possible, avoid the use of antacids, barium, bismuth, anti-diarrheal medication or oily laxatives prior to collection of the sample.
  4. Select an appropriate area of stool (bloody, slimy, watery) and fill each container to the “fill to here” line using the collection spoon in the cap provided.
  5. Mix the contents of the tube with the spoon, then tighten the cap and shake firmly to insure the specimen is adequately mixed.
  6. Label the containers with your name, date, and time of collection.
  7. Return to the laboratory for testing.

Parasite Panel

  1. A sterile container will be provided by the laboratory or physician’s office. The collection kits for Stool culture or O&P may also be used for this test.
  2. Collect using the general collection procedures above.
  3. Return to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible.

Urine Collections

Routine

Clean Catch Urine. Use two Benzlyconium Chloride towelettes.

Preparation
  1. Wash hands thoroughly. Tear open the towelettes.
  2. Females – Separate the folds of the urinary opening. Using the first towelette, clean one side of the inner fold with one firm downward stroke – one time only. Using the second towelette, clean the opposite inner fold with one firm downward stroke – one time only.
  3. Males – Open towelette, pull the foreskin back and clean the head of penis. Discard towelette and repeat with second towelette. Hold foreskin back during urination.
Collection
  1. Begin by urinating a small amount into the toilet or bedpan – then stop. Do not use this urine for your sample.
  2. Next, holding the sides of the container and avoiding contact with top of container, collect urine until the container is half full.
  3. Withdraw the container and complete urination into the toilet or bedpan.
  4. Handling Container: When capping the container, assure that the container threads are free of sample. Screw the cap on evenly and tightly. Bring to the lab for testing as soon as possible.
24-hour Collections

The laboratory will provide you with a 24-hour urine jug or bottle. This bottle may contain preservatives. Do not pour out the liquid or powder in the bottle. Do not touch, drink, or handle the preservatives in any way. Add only urine to the bottle. Exact timing of collection and completeness of collection is very important. Keep the bottle refrigerated during the collection process.

  1. When you start, urinate and discard the urine.
  2. Write down the time and date.
  3. Collect all urine for the next 24 hours and pour into the 24-hour bottle. *If you miss one, you will need to start over.
  4. At 24 hours, urinate a final time and include in the collection.
  5. Write down the time and date the collection is completed.
  6. Bring to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible.
Tests that Require a Blood Draw

A Creatinine Clearance Test will require a blood draw within 72 hours of 24hr urine collection.  This is required to calculate your Creatinine Clearance.  You can have this drawn when you return your 24hr urine collection.

Urine Tests with Special Dietary Requirements

5-HIAA (SEROTONIN) For three days prior to starting collection, avoid avocados, bananas, eggplant, pineapple, plums and walnuts.