If you can't hand your urine sample in within 1 hour, you should put the container in a sealed plastic bag then store it in the fridge at around 4C. Do not keep it for longer than 24 hours. The bacteria in the urine sample can multiply if it is not kept in a fridge.
In some cases, holding in pee for too long can cause bacteria to multiply. This may lead to a urinary tract infection (UTI). Many doctors recommend avoiding holding in pee for extended periods of time, as it can increase the risk of UTIs, especially if a person has a history of frequent UTIs.
Diagnosis requires collection of urine generally by 1 of 4 methods: sterile urine bag, urethral catheterization (CATH), suprapubic aspiration (SPA), or clean-catch (CC).
Some urine samples can be analysed quickly using dipstick and the result is available on the same day. For other tests we may need to send the urine to the laboratory and this can take 5-7 days for the results to come back to the practice. These are sent electronically and checked every day by the GP's.
A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants). Then, in a clean container, catch about 1 to 2 ounces of urine and remove the container from the urine stream. The container is then given to the health care provider.
Do not keep it for longer than 24 hours. The bacteria in the urine sample can multiply if it is not kept in a fridge. If this happens, it could affect the test results. Some sample containers contain preservative so that urine can be stored for longer at room temperature.
Before going to bed, empty your bladder as completely as you can and discard the urine. 3. Immediately after getting up in the morning, pass a portion of the urine formed overnight into the bottle provided. (It does not matter of you have had to get up during the night to pass urine).
A contaminated urine specimen can give a large amount of false data on a dipstick test. Greater than five epithelial cells on microscopic evaluation is likely a sign of contamination.
If the urine is not collected in a sterile manner the urine sample may be 'contaminated' by bacteria that originate from the skin or genital area, and not from the urinary tract.
Urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, and then stop the flow of urine. Then collect a sample of urine into the clean or sterile cup, until it is half full. You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
Your doctor may, for example, request a first morning sample because the urine is more concentrated and therefore it is more likely to show up any abnormalities. Or if the doctor is looking for glucose in the urine they may ask you to collect a sample after a meal. You will probably be asked for a “mid-stream” sample.
If I do not use FMU, how long should I wait before testing? Typically, we advise “holding your urine” for about 4 hours before collecting a urine sample.
The urinary bladder is a temporary storage reservoir for urine. The urethra is the final passageway for the flow of urine.
Normal Results
The normal range for 24-hour urine volume is 800 to 2,000 milliliters per day (with a normal fluid intake of about 2 liters per day).
The urinary bladder can store up to 500 ml of urine in women and 700 ml in men.
The urine culture can take up to 3 days to produce a result. However, about 1 in 3 urine samples are contaminated by bacteria which live on the skin or in the back passage.
This is perfectly normal and unavoidable. However, if your sample includes bacteria and natural flora from outside the urinary tract's microbiome, the waters can be muddied (so to speak), resulting in a contaminated or mixed growth sample. This is all too common.
Urine contains fluids, salts and waste products but is sterile or free of bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing organisms. A UTI occurs when bacteria from another source, such as the nearby anus, gets into the urethra. The most common bacteria found to cause UTIs is Escherichia coli (E. coli).
A urine test can be done in your doctor's office, clinic, or lab. Or you may be asked to collect a urine sample at home. Then you can take it to the office or lab for testing.
Regarding specimen acceptability, the CLSI Guidelines recommend urinalysis within two hours from sampling. If this is not possible, samples should be stored immediately at 4 °C. Further analyses should be performed within four hours (1). Urine cultures can be analyzed at 4 °C for a period of 24 hours (h) (10).
Morning is when your urine will be most concentrated. So, if your morning urine is a pale, straw color, you're probably well hydrated and healthy. At bedtime, it should look as clear as water or at least pale yellow. If it doesn't, you may need to boost your fluid intake.
Is second-morning urine OK for a pregnancy test? Pregnancy tests usually recommend using first-morning urine for accuracy. These days, however, most are sensitive enough to pick up hCG in your second-morning wee, if it's present. It is better to do the test early in the morning, when your urine isn't diluted.
The darker the colour of the urine, the more concentrated it is. Because people tend to sleep for several hours without having a drink, their urine is normally darker when urinating first thing in the morning.