engleski

Preparing the patient as an imperative for obtaining adequate sample for qualitative urinalysis

Background: Urine is an analytical matrix that provides information on numerous physiological processes. It is accessible and it can be collected noninvasively what is of great importance. Urinalysis is one of the most frequently requested analyses at all levels of health care. Providing the adequate preanalytical conditions for obtaining an appropriate sample is the basic precondition for reliable results and appropriate clinical interpretation afterwards. It can be obtained in a form of oral or written recommendations.Materials and methods: Anonymous survey in a form of questionnaire was conducted in 78 randomly selected patients who were instructed to the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine for laboratory analysis. Our aim was to gain insight into the awareness of patients regarding preanalytical conditions aff ecting urine sampling. The main question was whether patients received any kind (oral or written) of recommendations how to prepare for giving urine sample either form the physician, nurse or laboratory staff. Results: Only 13/78 patients received partial verbal instructions (5 from the doctor, 8 from the nurse) prior urine sampling, while 65/78 patients had never received any form of recommendations for administering the single sample of urine in the practice of primary care. However, almost 80% of selected patients (59/78) received written and/or oral instructions when they arrived in their primary laboratory. Conclusion: These results indicate that patients are poorly instructed for urine sampling in their primary care office, while these instructions are available in most primary laboratories. Informing patients is one of the basic conditions of obtaining a good sample. International recommendations a continuous education of health teams leads to overall reduction of preanalytical errors. The eff ectiveness of these basic conditions is defined by the quality indicators that objectify all steps in the collection, transport and storage of samples.

urine sampling; patient preparation

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