The nurse has received a prescription to obtain a urinalysis and microscopic analysis.When is the ideal time of the day for the nurse to collect this specimen?

A) In the morning
B) In the evening before bedtime
C) Before a meal
D) After the patient drinks 1 liter of water

The ideal time of the day to collect a urinalysis and microscopic analysis is first thing in the morning when a patient awakens and first urinates.The urine is generally more concentrated because it has been sitting in the bladder all or most of the night and,therefore,contains relatively higher levels of cellular elements and urine components,such as protein or microscopic blood,if present.Although collecting urine in the evening or before a meal may be more convenient for some patients,this timing is more difficult to accurately interpret because the concentration might be affected by the fluid intake throughout the day.Likewise,collecting a urine sample after the patient drinks a liter of water would yield a diluted specimen,thus providing an inaccurate view of the patient's urinary status.