How to prepare for urine tests

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COLLECTION OF URINE SAMPLES

• It is recommended that you do not take vitamin C supplements for at least 24 hours prior to a urinalysis.
• For total and/or biochemical urine tests, the sample should be collected in a special sterile urine collection cup available from a pharmacy. A mid-morning urine sample (approximately 10 ml) is collected. For a urine culture, collect 40-50 ml of the sample in a sterile container (such containers are sold in a sealed bag).
• Before starting to collect urine, hands should be washed clean with warm water and soap. A sterile urine container should be prepared. When unscrewing the stopper and collecting urine, fingers must not be allowed to touch the inner surface of the container and stopper.
• For infants and young children, urine samples can be collected using urine collection bags.

Urine collection for women:

1. Wash the external genitalia, including the urethra, with a stream of running water without the use of any disinfectant. Dry the external genitalia with a clean disposable wipe.
2. After urination, allow the first portion of urine (30-50 ml) to drain into the toilet. Collect the middle portion of urine in a cup.
3. When collecting urine, try not to touch the edges of the container to the genitals. Screw the container in first, without touching the inside of the lid with your hands, and then wipe off any residual urine.

Urine collection in men:

1. Stripping the urethra, retracting the foreskin if necessary.
2. Wash the tip of the penis, including the area where the urethra opens, with a stream of running water. Dry the external genitalia with a clean disposable wipe.
3. After urination, allow the first portion of urine (30-50 ml) to drain into the toilet. Collect the middle portion of urine in a cup.
4. After urination, dry wipe the outside of the container and write the name, date and time of collection on the urine container.
5. Urine samples shall be delivered to the laboratory at room temperature (+15...+25) ⁰C within 2 hours of collection. If this is not possible, the urine must be stored in a refrigerator at +4 °C for up to 8 hours.
6. When collecting urine for the detection of sexually transmitted pathogens, washing of the external genitalia is not required. The first portion of morning urine shall be collected.
7. Inadequate preparation, collection of urine not according to the specified guidelines, or delivery of urine in a non-sterile container will usually skew the results of the test and may require a repeat test.

DAILY URINE COLLECTION

• Daily urine is collected in 2.5-3 litre plastic containers available from pharmacies.
• The collected urine should be kept cool, preferably at (+2...+8) ⁰C and protected from direct sunlight.
• Hands and external genital organs are washed before each urination.
• Empty the bladder, i.e. urinate into the toilet, before collecting the daily urine. After the first urination, the time shall be recorded and urine collection shall start from that point. Urine is collected for 24 hours.
• For infants and young children, a urine sample can be collected using urine collection bags.

NOTE: It is recommended to collect daily urine as follows: in the morning, e.g. at 8 am, the patient should empty the bladder, this urine should be poured out (flushed down the toilet) and not counted. The urine is then collected throughout the day and night in one container. At 8am the next morning, the bladder is emptied again, but the amount collected is poured into the same container - this is called 24-hour urine.

URINE COLLECTION FOR THE DETECTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS BY THE PGR METHOD

• The PCR test uses "first portion" morning urine collected in a clean disposable sterile container.
• Morning urine should be collected without washing the external genital tract.
• Starting with the first drops of urine, 30-50 ml of urine should be collected in the cup.
• The urine container shall be sealed and the patient's name, time of collection (hours and minutes) and date shall be recorded on the container.
• The urine to be tested is stored and transported at (+2...+8) °C. Samples must be delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours.

COLLECTION, PREPARATION AND STORAGE OF MICROBIOLOGICAL CULTURES

1. If it is not possible to culture the urine sample on the same day, a portion of the urine from the urine collection container is collected into a special Urine Monovette container/injection with a preservative (e.g. boric acid).
2. The urine is mixed by rotating the container in a circular motion.
3. The lid is removed from the urine container.
4. Remove the lid from the Urine Monovette container and replace the back, which is inserted into the urine container.
5. With the end on the other side of the Urine Monovette container, the urine is drawn into the container up to the indicated mark.
6. The filled Urine Monovette should be held upright, the jar with the remaining urine tightly screwed shut and disposed of in a hazardous waste container.
7. The detachable nozzle and the broken end of the urine-drawing container shall be disposed of in a hazardous waste container. The lid shall be put on.
8. Invert the Urine Monovette container 5 times to mix the preservative powder with the urine.
9. The name of the patient, the time of sampling (hours and minutes) and the date shall be written on the container.
10. If it is not possible to deliver the urine sample for culture to the laboratory on the same day, it may be stored for up to 48 hours at (+2...+8)°C.