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Urine, just like any other specimen, should be handled properly. The universal precaution is to consider all bodily fluids as potentially infectious no matter what the sero-diagnostic results are. This means to say that a person handling these samples should wear protective personal equipment (PPE), like gloves, masks, laboratory gowns and in some instances goggles.

There are misconceptions too regarding urine specimens. The following are these misconceptions:

1. Sperm cells can never be seen in a woman's urine.

This is untrue because sperms are seen in a woman's urine every now and then. This occurs especially right after coitus, when the woman has not properly washed her vagina before urinating. This is normal, but if seen, should be reported to the clinician.

2. All turbid urine are pathologic.

This is not always correct. Urine has the tendency to form urates or phosphates when left at room temperature. These are non-pathologic sediments which naturally form when urine samples are not refrigerated. Constant presence of large amounts of urates and phosphates in freshly voided urine; however, should be investigated because they may indicate the formation of kidney stones.

3. The AIDS virus can be transmitted through the urine.

Autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) virus could not be transmitted in urine unless you have a fresh cut or wound and the virus itself has freshly contaminated the urine. The virus is usually transmitted through sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, being punctured by needles from contaminated individuals, oral and anal sex, ( with an AIDS infected person ) when there are open wounds and cuts.

4. The urine is a blood ultra filtrate so it's clean and could be used for treatment.

Urine is an ultra-filtrate of blood, but when it is transported from the kidneys going to the ureter, the urinary bladder and then the meatus, it is already contaminated with epithelial cells, mucus threads, tissue juices and possibly bacteria, so it is no longer safe to use it for medicinal purposes.

5. You could not differentiate the serum of blood from urine.

Although, at times, they appear the same in color and transparency (especially if the urine is normal), you could differentiate one from the other by testing for the compositions. Urine contains more urea while serum has less. Normal urine has undetectable protein and sugar content while serum can be measured quantitatively. Serum is odorless while fresh urine is aromatic in odor. Urine is generally acidic while serum is near neutral.

Information given out should always be verified before considering it a fact. Facts are supported by empirical methods.

Learn more about this author, Virginia Gaces.
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