Ordering Guidance

A timed 24-hour urine collection is the preferred specimen for measuring and interpreting this urinary analyte. Order OXU / Oxalate, 24 Hour, Urine.

Random collections normalized to urinary creatinine may be of some clinical use in patients who cannot collect a 24-hour specimen, typically small children. Therefore, this random test is offered for children under 16 years old.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation: Avoid taking large doses (>2 g orally/24 hours) of vitamin C prior to specimen collection.

Supplies: Urine Tubes, 10 mL tube (T068)

Container/Tube: 10-mL plastic tube or a clean, plastic container with no metal cap

Specimen Volume: 7 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. No preservative.

3. Specimen pH should be between 4.5 and 8 and will stay in this range if kept refrigerated. Specimens with pH above 8 may indicate bacterial contamination, and testing will be cancelled. Do not attempt to adjust pH as it will adversely affect results.