Test Instruction
Stool Collection
- Collect the stool specimen (bowel-movement only) in a wide mouth container, bedpan, or a clean newspaper or plastic wrap placed over the toilet seat opening. This prevents the fecal specimen from falling into the toilet bowl (Collection container does not have to be sterile, but must be clean). DO NOT TAKE STOOL FROM TOILET BOWL. Stool sample cannot be tested if mixed with water or urine. Do not submit diapers for testing - place fecal materials to a suitable container.
- Collect enough stool into the screw-capped container provided, equivalent to at least the size of a golf ball, or if liquid, approximately 5 tablespoons. It is important to sample areas of the specimen, which are bloody, slimy, or watery.
- Close the lid tightly.
- Label the container with the patient's name and the date of collection.
- Place the container in a plastic bag.
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Deliver to the laboratory as soon as possible. If specimen cannot be delivered immediately, refrigerate until delivery.
Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection (Females)
- Remove appropriate garments for urination.
- Wash hands thoroughly.
- With one hand, separate the urinary opening and hold open until the process is complete.
- Using a saturated soapy sponge, wash from front to back three times using a different soap and pad each time.
- Wash with warm sterile water to remove soap residue.
- The patient should avoid a few milliliters into the toilet and then collect urine in a sterile container (Do not stop the flow of urine through this process).
- Secure the lid on the container.
- Deliver to the laboratory as soon as possible.
Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection (Males)
- Remove appropriate garments for urination.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Cleanse the penis, retract the foreskin (if not circumcised) and wash three times with different soap pad each time.
- Wash with warm sterile water to remove soap residue.
- Keeping the foreskin retracted, allow a few milliliters of urine to pass and then collect urine in a sterile container (Do not stop the flow of urine through this process).
- Secure the lid on the container.
- Deliver to the laboratory as soon as possible.
Semen Analysis
The patient should not have had sexual contact at least for three days. The sperm is gathered in special sterile container carefully and is transported to the laboratory within 30 minutes.
Iron
The sample is never collected and tested late in the afternoon because at that time, iron has the lowest