12/03/2019
The best time to have the urine sample checked:
Since urinalysis is performed through a visual examination of *stream, sediment, and color, it is ideally performed in conditions where natural sunlight can pass through the container, as described in the four medical tantras. In the absence of available sunlight however, urine can be checked under any lighting of appropriate strength, preferably neutral in color.
The best containers for urine collection:
Since the apparent color of urine can change relative to the color of its containers, it is important to collect the urine in either e.g. a white ceramic bowl, or preferably, a container of clean, clear glass. While the authors of the classical Tibetan texts were restricted to copper, brass, or clay bowls on account of availability, today there is an abundance of clean, clear containers that allow us to examine a urine sample with ease and certainty through the container itself. Under traditional circumstances, in which facilities were scarce and conditions may have been urgent, doctors checked often collected urine on site in a colored container, and avoided misapprehending its color through the additional use of white animal bone or white wooden sticks.
