Urine Samples

gloved hand holding plastic cup
Your doctor or other health professional may ask for a urine sample to help diagnose or rule out health conditions. Urine contains waste products that are filtered out of the body so can be useful in diagnosing problems. Please don't bring a urine sample to the practice without discussing it with us first. We need to know the resaon for the sample and any symptoms you have, prior to receipt of the sample.

This section of our website is to help you prepare a urine sample for testing.

If you have symptoms of a urine infection;

  • pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
  • needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
  • pee that looks cloudy, dark or has a strong smell
  • needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
  • needing to pee more often than usual
  • blood in your pee
  • lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
  • a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
  • a very low temperature below 36C

we will need to test a urine sample for you.  If you are a woman, aged 16 to 64 you can visit your local pharmacy and they will assess you for antibiotics without the need to provide a sample. 

This should be a morning sample delivered to the surgery the same day, before 1pm. Please pick up a white top pot at reception. Here is some information on how to give the most accurate sample. 

To collect a clean urine sample:
  • label the container with your name, date of birth and the date
  • wash your hands
  • start to urinate, but don’t collect the first part of urine that comes out
  • collect a sample of urine "mid-stream" (see below) in a sterile screw-top container
  • screw the lid of the container shut
  • wash your hands thoroughly

A mid-stream urine sample means that you don’t collect the first or last part of urine that comes out. This reduces the risk of the sample being contaminated with bacteria.

 

For more information on signs and symptoms of a urine infection, please visit Urinary tract infections (UTIs) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Storage of Urine

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. 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 with overgrowth. 

Please provide a same day sample of urine to the practice for testing, even if you need to post it through the door between 7-8am when we are closed there is a cage to catch the samples on our letterbox. 

We can only accept samples in sterile sample pots. Using other household containers may negatively affect the result or contaminate ths ample making it untestable. This would make it necessary to repeat the sample and delay treatment. We ask that you use the correct containers and ensure the urine is not stored at room temperature.

Any samples dropped off with us need to be;

  • A same day sample
  • Delivered to the practice before 1pm
  • In an appropriate sample pot
  • Have your name and date of birth clearly written on the label (you can ask us for a lable if thats easier)
  • Kept in the fridge at 4C if you are unable to bring in within 2hours of production