Follow any instructions given to you by your doctor. Please call your doctor if you have any questions prior to having your lab tests collected or call the lab for assistance.

Fasting: If your doctor requests fasting blood tests, please do not eat or drink anything except water after midnight the night before.

Glucose Tolerance Testing: Must be Fasting!!! Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before. NO GUM, MINTS, COFFEE or SODA! This procedure generally takes about 4 hours to complete. A specimen is collected one time each hour.

1. You will be given a container by the doctor’s office or the laboratory.
   
   
2. The morning you are to start collecting the 24-hour urine specimen, empty your bladder as usual upon waking. DO NOT add this first morning specimen to the container.
   
   
3. Collect samples in a clean cup and carefully pour the urine into the 24-hour container. Always use caution when transferring the urine.
   
   
4. Collect all specimens, day and night, after that first morning specimen for the next 24 hours. Your collection will end the next morning after you collect and transfer the first morning specimen into the container. This will be the last specimen collected for the 24-hour period.
   
   
5. Keep the urine refrigerated or on ice at all times during the collection and until the specimen is brought to the lab.
   
   
6. It is very important to collect and transfer all of your urine during the 24-hour period. If you miss collecting a specimen, alert the laboratory or your doctor.
   
   
7. Bring the urine and the doctor's request form to the laboratory as soon as possible after the last collection.
   
   
8. Deliver the sample to one of the Spectrum Laboratory locations. Click here to find the location nearest you.