One specimen. Right tube. Same-day handling.
Urinalysis (UA), also ordered as urinalysis with microscopic exam, is a chemistry test run on urine. TLS receives it from nursing homes and long-term care facilities, where the pre-analytic step (the right tube, labeled correctly, inside the stability window) decides whether a resident gets a result or a re-collection.
At a glance
| Test name | Urinalysis (UA); also listed as UA, urinalysis with microscopic exam |
| Category | Chemistry |
| Specimen | Urine in a white top tube |
| Stability | 24 hours at room temperature; 72 hours refrigerated |
| Turnaround | Under 24 hours from receipt |
| Ordered by | Nursing homes and long-term care facilities |
What it detects
| Component | Included |
|---|---|
| Urinalysis | Yes |
| Microscopic exam | Yes |
When to order it
TLS supplies this test to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Order it when your clinical assessment of a resident calls for a urinalysis with microscopic exam.
Your requisition also lets you choose how the test is built:
- 502: Urinalysis
- 500: Urinalysis with reflex to microscopic
- 501: Urinalysis with reflex to culture
- UAUTI: Urinalysis with reflex to UTI
These are TLS requisition test codes, not CPT codes.
If the clinical question is whether to use culture or PCR for a suspected UTI, see PCR vs. Culture UTI Testing.
Specimen collection
Send the labeled tube, not the urine cup. The cup will not be accepted for any testing.
Container: White top tube (BD Vacutainer urinalysis tube).
Handling:
- Transfer urine from the cup into the white top tube with the transfer device.
- Fill to the indicated line. Do not under-fill or over-fill.
- Cap tightly. Invert gently several times.
- Label at the bedside after collection. Do not pre-label.
- Transport at room temperature. Refrigerate if delayed.
Required identifiers: patient first and last name, date of birth, and date of collection. All three are required to process urine samples.
Stability: 24 hours at room temperature, 72 hours refrigerated. Outside this window the UA is rejected.
Culture is a separate tube. Urine culture and sensitivity goes in the gray top boric acid tube, filled to the line and inverted 8 to 10 times. A culture submitted without preservative is rejected.
Common urine rejection reasons
| Reason | Why it happens | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong container | Urine cup sent instead of tubes | Transfer to the white and gray top tubes |
| Under/over-fill | Tube not filled to the indicated line | Fill exactly to the line |
| Past stability window | UA older than the stability limit | Collect and ship same day; refrigerate if delayed |
| Missing identifiers | Tube lacks name, DOB, or collection date | Label at bedside with all three |
Urine in a cup is rejected at a 5× higher rate than urine in preserved tubes. Unsure which tube to use, or past the stability window? Stop and call before sending: 248.800.6626.
Understanding the report
The documents available for this page do not describe the UA report layout or reported analytes. For report format questions, contact the lab.
What the requisition does control is the workflow. Choosing reflex to microscopic, culture, or UTI (codes 500, 501, UAUTI) determines whether follow-on testing is attached to the original order.
Why order it from Total Lab Solutions
- Tube-level guidance for nursing staff. Every TLS collection guide covers tube selection, step-by-step procedure, stability windows for room temperature and refrigerated storage, common rejection causes, and the TLS phone line. Facilities post them at draw stations and use them in competency checklists and orientation.
- Reflex options on the requisition. Four UA order codes let you specify reflex to microscopic, culture, or UTI at the time of ordering.
- A direct line before you send. If a sample is questionable, staff can call 248.800.6626 before shipping, which avoids a rejection and a re-collection for the resident.
- Under 24 hours from receipt. This is the standard TLS turnaround.
See how TLS supports facilities across the board on our lab services for skilled nursing facilities page.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a urinalysis with microscopic exam, and how does it differ from a dipstick-only UA?
The test targets are the urinalysis and the microscopic exam. The requisition offers plain urinalysis (502) and urinalysis with reflex to microscopic (500), so microscopy can be ordered as a reflex rather than as a default. The documents available here do not list individual dipstick or microscopy analytes. Call 248.800.6626 for the detailed report menu.
What are the specimen collection requirements, including clean-catch midstream collection, minimum volume, and acceptable containers or preservatives?
The UA container is the white top tube. Transfer urine from the cup with the transfer device and fill to the indicated line. No minimum volume other than the fill line is specified here. No collection technique (such as clean-catch midstream) is specified for UA in the documents available, so confirm with the lab. The UA tube does not use a preservative. Culture requires the gray top boric acid tube. The urine cup is not accepted.
How long is a urine specimen stable at room temperature or refrigerated before testing, and when will it be rejected?
The white top UA tube is stable for 24 hours at room temperature and 72 hours refrigerated. Outside that window the UA is rejected. Samples are also rejected for the wrong container, under- or over-filling, or missing identifiers (name, DOB, collection date).
What is the standard turnaround time, and do you offer reflex microscopy or reflex urine culture based on dipstick findings?
Standard turnaround is under 24 hours from receipt. The requisition offers UA with reflex to microscopic (500), UA with reflex to culture (501), and UA with reflex to UTI (UAUTI). The reflex trigger criteria are not specified in the documents available for this page. Urine culture requires the gray top boric acid tube, so if you order a reflex to culture and are unsure which tubes to send, call before sending.
Which CPT codes apply to urinalysis with microscopy, and what documentation of medical necessity do payers typically require?
CPT codes are not listed in the documents available for this test, so none are stated here. On the TLS requisition, the practitioner signature confirms the tests are medically necessary and that the requesting physician is authorized to order them. The patient signature authorizes insurance payment to TLS and release of results to the ordering physician. For coding questions, contact TLS.
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