Urine Test
Collecting a urine sample
Your doctor or another healthcare professional should give you a container and explain how you should collect the urine sample.
You can collect a urine sample at any time of day, unless your GP or practice nurse advises you otherwise.
The types of urine sample you might be asked for include a random specimen, first morning specimen or timed collection.
To collect a clean urine sample:
- use a completely clean (sterile) container
- label the container with your name, date of birth and the date
- wash your hands
- start to urinate and collect a sample of urine “mid-stream” in a sterile screw-top container
- screw the lid of the container shut
- wash your hands thoroughly
- store it in a fridge in a sealed plastic bag (for no longer than 24 hours) to prevent bacteria multiplying and affecting the test results – if you can’t hand it in straight away or within an hour
- follow any other instructions your doctor gives you.
As long as the sample is clean and properly labelled you can drop the sample container in the specimen box provided outside Treatment Room reception at the surgery. The front desk (i.e., main reception team) can direct you if you are unsure where to go. If you have a sample for Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, please present this to our treatment room receptionist.
The use of urine samples
Your GP or another healthcare professional may ask for a urine sample to help them diagnose or rule out certain health conditions.
Urine contains waste products that are filtered out of the body. If the sample contains anything unusual, it may indicate an underlying health problem.
Urine tests are most commonly carried out to check:
- for infection – such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia in men
- if a person is passing any protein in their urine as a result of kidney damage – this is known as an ACR test
Read the answers to more questions about operations, tests and procedures.