Urine Preservatives—Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens

The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic initiated a study to determine stability of analytes under different preservative conditions. This reference chart, built from that study,
will enable you to select either temperature conditions or preservatives to maximize the number of tests that can be performed on a single 24-hour collection.
Note: See the Test Catalog for test-specific collection requirements.
Preservative Options Transport Temperature
Temperature Preservation Ambient
50% 6M 6M (Plain)
Acetic Boric Diazolidinyl Hydrochloric Nitric Sodium Internal
Published Test Name Test ID Ambient Refrigerate Frozen Acid Acid Urea Acid Acid Carbonate Thymol Toluene Only External Internal
Adrenal Mass Panel, Frozen preferred ≤ 90 days
ACC No OK OK No No No No No No No No No Frozen OK
24 hour, Urine Refrig ≤ 14 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Albumin, 24 Hour, Urine ALB24 OK Preferred OK No OK No No No No OK No OK Ambient OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
Frozen OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Aldosterone, 24 Hour,
ALDU OK OK OK Preferred OK No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient with preservative OK ≤ 14 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Aldosterone with
ALDNA OK OK OK Preferred OK No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Sodium, 24 Hour, Urine
Ambient with preservative OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Alpha-1-Microglobulin,
A1M24 OK Preferred OK OK OK No No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Aluminum, 24 Hour,
ALU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Ammonium, 24 Hour,
AMMO No OK OK OK OK Preferred OK No No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Arsenic with Reflex,
ASU24 OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Arsenic Fractionation,
ASFR OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤72 hours
Refrig preferred 28 days
Arsenic Speciation,
SPASU No Preferred OK OK No No OK No No No No No Frozen 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Arylsulfatase A,
ARSU No Required No No No No No No No No No No Frozen NO Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Cadmium, 24 Hour,
CDU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Calcium, 24 Hour, Urine CALU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Catecholamine Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Fractionation, Free, CATU No OK OK Preferred OK No OK OK No No No No Frozen OK ≤14 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine Ambient with preservative OK ≤ 7 days
©2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Page 1 of 5 MC1235-87rev0820
Urine Preservatives—Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens (continued)
Preservative Options Transport Temperature
Temperature Preservation 50% 6M 6M Ambient
Published Test Acetic Boric Diazolidinyl Hydrochloric Nitric Sodium (Plain)
Name Test ID Ambient Refrigerate Frozen Acid Acid Urea Acid Acid Carbonate Thymol Toluene Internal Only External Internal
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Chloride, 24 Hour,
CLU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Chromium, 24 Hour,
CRU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Citrate Excretion,
CITR No OK OK No OK Preferred No No No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Cobalt, 24 Hour,
COU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Copper, 24 Hour,
CUU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Cortisol/Cortisone,
COCOU No OK OK OK Preferred No No No No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Free, 24 Hour, Urine
Ambient with preservative OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Cortisol, Free,
CORTU No OK OK OK Preferred No No No No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient with preservative OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 30 days
Creatinine, 24 Hour,
CTU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 30 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 30 days
Creatinine Refrig preferred
Clearance, Serum CRCL Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK No Preferred Frozen OK Ambient OK
and 24 Hour Urine Ambient OK
Cystinuria Profile, Frozen preferred ≤ 70 days
Quantitative, CYSQN No OK OK No No No No No No No Preferred No Refrig ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine Ambient NO
2, 3-Dinor-11 Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Beta-Prostaglandin 23BPG No Preferred OK OK OK No No No OK No No No Frozen OK ≤ 30 days Ambient OK
F2 Alpha, Urine Ambient OK ≤ 8 hours
Electrophoresis, EPU Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Protein, 24 Hour, PEU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 5 days Ambient OK
Urine (internal) Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Gadolinium,
GDU OK Preferred OK No No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Glucose, 24 Hour,
GLUR No OK OK OK Preferred No OK OK No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient NO
Heavy Metals Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Screen, with Reflex, HMU24 No Preferred OK OK No No OK No No No OK No Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Homovanillic Acid,
HVA No No No Preferred No No OK No No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 180 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
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Urine Preservatives—Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens (continued)
Preservative Options Transport Temperature
Temperature Preservation 50% 6M 6M Ambient
Acetic Boric Diazolidinyl Hydrochloric Nitric Sodium (Plain)
Published Test Name Test ID Ambient Refrigerate Frozen Acid Acid Urea Acid Acid Carbonate Thymol Toluene Internal Only External Internal
Refrig preferred ≤ 56 days
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic
HIAA No OK OK Preferred OK No OK OK OK OK OK No Frozen OK ≤ 365 days Ambient OK
Acid, 24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Immunofixation,
IFXU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 5 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Immunoglobulin Total OK < 72 < 72 hours
TLCU Preferred OK No No No No No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 20 days Ambient OK
Light Chains, Urine hours OK
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 146 days
Iodine, 24 Hour, Urine UIOD OK Preferred OK OK No No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 146 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 146 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Lead, 24 Hour, Urine PBU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No OK OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Leukotriene E4, Urine LTE4 OK Preferred OK OK OK No No No OK No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 30 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 24 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Magnesium, 24 Hour,
MAGU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Manganese, 24 Hour,
MNU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Mercury, 24 Hour, Urine HGU No Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No OK No Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO
Metanephrines, Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Fractionated, 24 Hour, METAF No OK OK Preferred Preferred No OK OK OK No OK No Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Urine Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
3-Methoxytyramine,
3MT OK OK OK Preferred Preferred No OK OK OK No OK OK Frozen OK ≤ 90 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
N-Methylhistamine,
NMH24 OK Preferred OK OK OK No OK OK OK No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 14 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Monoclonal Protein
MPSU OK Preferred OK No No No No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 5 days Ambient OK
Study, 24 Hour, Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 72 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Nickel, 24 Hour, Urine NIU OK Preferred OK OK No No No OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Nitrogen, Total, 24 Hour,
NITU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK No OK OK No OK Frozen OK Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Oxalate, 24 Hour, Urine OXU No OK OK No No Preferred No No No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO

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Urine Preservatives—Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens (continued)
Preservative Options Transport Temperature
Temperature Preservation Ambient
50% 6M 6M (Plain)
Acetic Boric Diazolidinyl Hydrochloric Nitric Sodium Internal
Published Test Name Test ID Ambient Refrigerate Frozen Acid Acid Urea Acid Acid Carbonate Thymol Toluene Only External Internal
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Phosphorus, 24 Hour,
POU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
pH, 24 Hour, Urine UPH24 No OK OK No No Preferred No No No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO
Frozen ≤ 7 days Refrig OK
Porphyrins, Quantitative,
PQNU No No No No No No No No Required No No No Refrig NO Ambient NO
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO Protect from light
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Potassium, 24 Hour,
KUR OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Protein, Total, 12 Hour,
12PTU OK Preferred OK No OK No No No No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 24 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Protein, Total, 24 Hour,
PTU No Preferred OK No OK No No No No OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 24 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 7 days
Retinol-Binding Protein,
RBP24 Preferred OK OK No OK No No No No OK No Preferred Frozen OK ≤ 7 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Serotonin, 24 Hour,
SERU OK Preferred OK Preferred No No No OK No No OK OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Refrig OK
Urine
Ambient OK ≤ 48 hours
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Sodium, 24 Hour, Urine NAU OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK OK No OK No OK Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 7 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Sulfate, 24 Hour, Urine SULFU No Preferred OK No OK OK No No OK OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Supersaturation Profile,
SAT24 No OK OK No No Preferred No No No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Thallium, 24 Hour, Urine TLU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Urea, 24 Hour, Urine URAU No OK OK OK Preferred OK OK OK OK OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 14 days
Uric Acid, 24 Hour, Urine URCU No OK OK No Preferred OK No No OK OK No No Frozen OK ≤ 14 days Ambient OK
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Vanillylmandelic Acid,
VMA No No No Preferred OK No OK OK No No No No Frozen OK ≤ 180 days Ambient OK
24 Hour, Urine
Ambient NO
Refrig preferred ≤ 28 days
Zinc, 24 Hour, Urine ZNU OK Preferred OK OK No No OK OK No No No OK Frozen OK ≤ 28 days Ambient OK
Ambient OK ≤ 28 days
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Urine Preservatives—Collection and Transportation for 24-Hour Urine Specimens (continued)

The conditions and concentrations of urine preservatives are defined for 24-hour collections as follows:
Ambient Room temperature (21–25 degrees C)
Refrigerated 4–8 degrees C
Frozen -20 degrees C
50% Acetic Acid 25 mL per 24-hour collection
Boric Acid (crystals) 10 g per 24-hour collection
Diazolidinyl Urea (250 g/L) 5 mL per 24-hour collection
6M Hydrochloric Acid 30 mL per 24-hour collection
6M Nitric Acid 15 mL per 24-hour collection
Sodium Carbonate (crystals) 5 g per 24-hour collection
Thymol (10% in isopropanol) 10 mL per 24-hour collection
Toluene 30 mL per 24-hour collection

Preservative and condition guidelines have been evaluated specifically for Mayo Clinic Laboratories assays. If you have questions regarding the use of preservatives, contact Mayo Clinic Laboratories
at 800-533-1710 or 507-266-5700.

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