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Running a Sample
Sample Collection
Urine samples may be collected by any of these methods for analysis on the SA.
1. Cystocentesis: Insert a small needle into the bladder through the skin and draw urine into
the syringe. The technique is ideal for collecting urine samples for bacterial culture.
2. Catheter: Place a urinary catheter within the urethra and advance it into the bladder.
Collect the sample using a sterile syringe. Sterile technique should be followed both for
the patient's urinary tract health and integrity of bacterial culture, if needed.
3. Free catch/voided (mid-stream): Using a sterile urine collection jar, collect a mid-stream
urine sample. Free catch samples are most at risk for contamination by the genital tract,
skin, and hair which can result in a false positive bacterial identification and culture.
Urine collected from a litter box, floor or exam table will have additional sources of
contamination. Bacteria, hyphal structures, and foreign material if identified, should be
considered as such and another sample collected, especially if bacterial culture is needed.
It is recommended to acquire at least 1 mL of urine sample prior to running a test. The SA
requires approximately 650 µL (0.65 mL) of sample to run a SA test and additional sample
is required for application to UA strip, if also running a UA test.
Sample Handling
Do not centrifuge or stain urine samples before use on the VETSCAN SA and VETSCAN UA.
Use fresh, well mixed urine.
Urine samples may be tested immediately after collection up to one-hour post collection,
if stored at room temperature.
If urine samples are not tested within one hour of collection, samples may be refrigerated
(36-46 °F, 2-8 °C) for up to 4 hours.
Cold samples must be warmed to room temperature prior to testing.
Dilution
For a dilution decision chart, see Appendix J. If a dilution is performed, it should be initiated at
1:2 (0.4 mL urine, 0.4 mL saline) and increased accordingly depending on the pathology that can
be identified in the images provided by the VETSCAN SA.
sterile 0.9% NaCl to dilute urine samples. Invert the tube gently 10-15 times immediately prior to
running the sample. The SA will automatically calculate results based on the dilution selected.
SPECIAL CASES: In SA Software v1.1 or higher, if a UA10 or UA14 strip is utilized and run with the
SA for the same patient, pH is factored into the crystal classification to more accurately identify
calcium oxalate crystals and struvites. If a patient with stones or severe crystalluria is currently
on a prescription diet that alters the urine pH to decrease crystal formation or dissolve a urinary
stone, update to the SA Software v1.1 crystal identification that factors in the urine pH should
be disabled for more accurate results. The pH in this case may cause crystals to be misclassified
due to the patient's clinical status. To disable the pH aspect of the classification, the SA must
be run separately from the UA then combined later in the Database. See Database – Reviewing
Previous Results section for detailed information on this process.
1. Sink CA and Weinstein NM. Practical Veterinary Urinalysis. Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 2012 2. Dennis and DiBartola, Stephen,
Interpretation of Canine and Feline Urinalysis. Nestle Purina, Wilmington, De. 2004.
When performing dilutions, use only
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