     Today’s technologies allow testing on an 
     impressively wide variety of samples collected from 
     the human body. Most often, all that is required is a 
     blood sample. However, samples of urine, saliva, 
     sputum, feces, semen, and other bodily fluids and 
     tissues also can be tested. 
        Some samples can be obtained as the body 
     naturally eliminates them. Others are quick and easy 
     to acquire because they reside in the body’s orifices. 
     For some, minor surgery and anesthesia give the 
     physician access to the required sample.
       In the following slides, you will find information on 
     samples that are naturally eliminated from the body, 
     samples that are easy to obtain, and 
     samples from within the body.
 Samples That Are Naturally Eliminated
         Some samples such as urine, feces, 
   sputum, and semen are collected as the body 
   naturally eliminates them and often they can 
   be collected by the patient. Young children, 
   however, or patients with physical limitations 
   may need assistance. Usually, collecting 
   these samples is painless, but obtaining them 
   can occasionally be awkward and unpleasant 
   because they involve elimination of bodily 
   wastes or bodily fluids and involve body parts 
   and functions people prefer to keep private. 
         Sometimes these types of samples 
    can be collected at home and brought 
    to a medical office or facility, but they 
    also may be collected at a medical 
    facility such as a doctor’s office, clinic, 
    laboratory patient service center, or 
    hospital. These facilities are usually 
    designed to reduce sample handling 
    by the patient and minimize 
    embarrassment when providing 
    samples. You may, for example, find a 
    "pass-through" window in the 
    bathroom so you don’t have to walk 
    the hall with a see-through container 
    you have just filled. 
          You may find printed instructions 
     on how to obtain urine or stool 
     samples posted in the bathroom so 
     you don't have to listen to a nurse 
     tell you explicitly how to obtain a 
     "clean catch" of urine or a fecal 
     sample. If you are sensitive to these 
     issues and want to choose a health 
     care provider or testing center that 
     provides such options, you can ask 
     about their procedures, their layout, 
     and steps taken by the staff to 
     ensure patient privacy and comfort.
   types of samples typically collected by 
   the patient
    Semen :
        Male patients ejaculate into a 
    specimen container, which some men 
    find embarrassing or difficult. Usually, 
    men need to refrain from ejaculating 
    for 3 to 4 days before collecting the 
    specimen. The specimen must be kept 
    warm and brought to the lab within the 
    time period specified.