As urine contains your body's waste products, a urine sample that shows up something unusual could indicate a problem with your health, such as: <ul> <li>Infection – which could be a urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted infection </li> <li>Protein in urine – for example as a result of kidney damage, which is called an ACR test</li> </ul>

Urine sample – how to collect and store it

You'll be given a clean (sterile) screw-top container by your doctor or healthcare professional, who should explain how your urine sample needs to be taken. They will advise you whether your sample needs to be collected at a particular time of day, such as first thing in the morning or for a timed collection. Otherwise you can do the urine sample at any time. Follow these steps to collect a clean urine sample: <ul> <li>first label the container with your name, birth date and the date you are taking the sample</li> <li>wash your hands</li> <li>start to urinate first and then you can collect a "mid-stream" sample of urine. This lowers the risk of being contaminated by bacteria from your hands or skin around your urethra (tube that carries urine out of the body).</li> <li>screw the lid on tightly</li> <li>wash your hands when you've finished</li> </ul> Check for any further instructions from your doctor. ::: body-ad-desktop zones:: 232632,232617,232640 types:: 163 disclaimer:: AD typeFilter:: native_ad adCount:: 1 ::: ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232617,232642 types:: 5,163 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display/native_ad adCount:: 1 :::

How to collect your sample

It's best to hand your urine sample in within one hour. If you can't do that then store it in a fridge until you can take it in - this is to avoid bacteria in the sample multiplying, which can affect results. Make sure your urine sample is stored in a sealed plastic bag in your fridge at around 4C (39F) for no longer than 24 hours.

What's the best way to store a urine sample?



As urine contains your body's waste products, a urine sample that shows up something unusual could indicate a problem with your health, such as:

- __Infection__ – which could be a urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted infection 
- __Protein in urine__ – for example as a result of kidney damage, which is called an ACR test

## How to collect your sample

You'll be given a clean (sterile) screw-top container by your doctor or healthcare professional, who should explain how your urine sample needs to be taken.

They will advise you whether your sample needs to be collected at a particular time of day, such as first thing in the morning or for a timed collection. Otherwise you can do the urine sample at any time.

Follow these steps to collect a clean urine sample:

- __first label the container__ with your name, birth date and the date you are taking the sample
- __wash your hands__
- __start to urinate first and then you can collect a "mid-stream" sample__ of urine. This lowers the risk of being contaminated by bacteria from your hands or skin around your urethra (tube that carries urine out of the body).
- __screw the lid on tightly__
- __wash your hands__ when you've finished

Check for any further instructions from your doctor.


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## What's the best way to store a urine sample?

It's best to hand your urine sample in within one hour. If you can't do that then store it in a fridge until you can take it in - this is to avoid bacteria in the sample multiplying, which can affect results. 

Make sure your urine sample is stored in a sealed plastic bag in your fridge at around 4C (39F) for no longer than 24 hours. 


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References

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Article information

You can collect a urine sample at any time of day, unless your doctor advises you otherwise. Learn about urine samples here - using content verified by certified doctors.