Urine contains waste products that are filtered out of the body. Your doctor or other health professional may ask for a urine sample to help diagnose or rule out health conditions. If it contains anything unusual, this may indicate an underlying health condition such as:
- Pregnancy
- Organ function (kidney or other)
- Infection of the urinary tract
- Diabetes
Collecting a Urine Sample
Your doctor or another healthcare professional should give you a container and explain how you should collect the urine sample. The types of urine sample you might be asked for include a random specimen, first morning specimen or timed collection. Ensure that you are clear on the instructions given to you by your doctor before you leave your appointment and do the test.
Storing a urine sample until you hand it in
If you can’t hand your urine sample in within an hour, you should keep it in the fridge at around 4C (39F) for no longer than 24 hours. Put the container of urine in a sealed plastic bag first. If the urine sample isn’t kept in a fridge, the bacteria in it can multiply. If this happens, it could affect the test results.
My results
Please see here for information about and when and how to expect the results of your urine sample.