Question

The purpose of a 24-hour urine collection is to measure the:

(a) Concentration of a substance in the urine at a specific time point
(b) Total amount of a substance excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period
(c) Rate of excretion of a substance in the urine
(d) Presence of abnormal cells or casts in the urine
(e) pH of the urine

Answer 1

A 24-hour urine collection is used to assess the total amount of a substance excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period, which reflects kidney function and the body's fluid and electrolyte balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of a 24-hour urine collection is primarily to measure the total amount of a substance excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period. During this test, all urine produced in a 24-hour period is collected and analyzed. The collection is used in various tests, for example, to assess the kidney's ability to concentrate urine by measuring specific gravity or osmolality. Such measurements indicate the functionality of the kidneys in maintaining the body's fluid and electrolyte balance. Furthermore, the 24-hour collection can be used for assessing excretory function related to the clearance of substances like urea or dyes, and for the evaluation of metabolic products like magnesium, sodium, uric acid, calcium, citrate, oxalate, and phosphate.