Urine Tests Requiring Preservatives or Special Containers
(Grouped by Tests)


Recommended collection time period is 24 hours, except for pH and bicarbonate. Sodium, potassium, creatinine, and urea nitrogen can be performed on any routine specimen, with or without preservative.

Required Preservative
Test Name
20 mL 6 N HNO3 (Nitric Acid) Iron
Dark Container or wrap yellow conical tube in foil, no preservative Porphobilinogen, Qualitative
Dark Glass Container, refrigerate during collection Porphyrins & Porphobilinogen (PBG)
Glass container with 10 mL 6N HCl Oxalate
Plastic container with preservative added at start of collection. Contact lab at 6-3527 for preservative vial. Stone Studies
Plastic container, refrigerate during collection Arsenic
Cadmium
Citric Acid
Copper
Iodine
Lead
Mercury
Methylmalonic Acid, Quantitative
Protect from light AND refrigerate during collection Aminolevulinic Acid, Quantitative
Random container with thin layer of mineral oil pH, random urine collection only
Refrigerate during entire collection period Cortisol/Cortisone Urine Free (by LC-MS/MS)
Homocystine
Porphobilinogen, Quantitative
Refrigerate during collection or 10 grams boric acid or 5 mL concentrated HCl are acceptable preservatives Aldosterone