Patient information

Patient requirements for taking biological material

To the attention of the patients of the Medilab Laboratory, we present the requirements for taking samples for biological material, which you should adhere to in order to conduct your tests as qualitatively as possible and achieve accurate results.

General rules:

1. For testing, blood is taken by venipuncture in the morning, on an empty stomach, after deprivation of food for the last 12 hours and abstinence from alcohol for the past 24 hours, as well as deprivation of cigarettes and coffee before the manipulation.

2. Both before and during the collection of the sample necessary for the test, the patient’s mental and physical peace of mind is a priority.

Special requirements for specific analyzes (functional tests, hormonal tests, drug monitoring, etc.):

I. Blood tests.

1. Blood for hormone tests:

• For Prolactin, blood is taken in the morning no more than two hours after waking up, and the patient has abstained from sexual intercourse for the past 72 hours. The breasts have not been massaged for the past 72 hours. The patient is in a supine position.
• For PSA, blood is taken ten days after traumatic manipulations (e.g. rectal douching).

2. For a drug concentration test, the time elapsed since the last drug intake is observed.

3. A test for folate, iron and vitamin B12 is done at least 2 weeks after stopping medication therapy.

4. When taking a blood sugar test, the material is collected in the morning, without drinking or eating.

• If you have diabetes, the sample may need to be taken before you take your medication or inject insulin.
• With a blood sugar profile, specific times for measuring blood sugar are followed. The patient does not change their usual lifestyle and diet. The first measurement is taken in the morning before eating. At least one of the subsequent readings must be two hours after eating. Usually, samples are taken according to a specific schedule prescribed by the attending physician.

II. Urine tests.

1. For qualitative chemical testing, a single/random portion is taken, which is particularly suitable for examining the cellular composition, as well as the presence of cylinders, such as:

• single-use plastic cups are used;
• the first urine in the morning is taken, which is separated after a 12-hour break without taking fluids and food.

2. Quantitative urine tests.

For glucose, protein, hormones, etc. urine is collected for a period of 24 hours, also called diuresis, and certain requirements are met:

• clean containers are provided, with the patient’s data written on them;
• the laboratory provides a preservative that is consistent with the substance being analyzed;
• it is necessary to wash the genitals before urination.

Procedure:

• The first portion of urine from the first hour is not used for the study.
• It is recommended that the collection be done in a well-sanitized container that can be used to estimate the entire amount of excretion (for example, a two-liter plastic bottle).
• A preservative is initially added to subsequent portions of urine, which is provided to you in advance by the laboratory. The container is periodically shaken with the addition of each subsequent dose and stored in a dark and cool room.
• The exact time of the last dose of urine is recorded. The urination between the start and end time of urine sampling is according to the individual needs of the patient.
• The entire amount of urine is accurately measured and noted.
• The collected from all samples is mixed and 15-20 ml of urine is brought to the laboratory for examination.

3. Sterile urine – for this, a medium stream of the first morning urine (10-20 ml) is required in a sterile cup after preliminary toilet with water and soap (not disinfection) and drying.

III. Fecal sample – general collection rules:

• You must have urinated before collecting the fecal sample, as it should not be mixed with urine.
• It is recommended to wear gloves to avoid the risk of spreading the infection.
• The feces are placed in a sterile container, and they should not have touched the toilet bowl or been mixed with water, soap or soiled with toilet paper.

IV. Semen analysis.

The sample is collected after abstinence from sexual intercourse for three to five days, and the material is brought to the laboratory within an hour of its collection in a sterile container.

V. Throat swab.

A sample is taken from the patient’s throat in the morning on an empty stomach, with the subject not brushing their teeth and not having done any any oral hygiene.