It is sometimes useful to know how much urine a child is passing, or how much of a substance is in their urine, over one whole day. You may be asked to provide a 24-hour urine sample. This means you will need to get every drop of your child’s urine over 24 hours (one day and one night).
You will be given some equipment to help you collect the urine. This is usually a large container or bag, a plastic funnel, a bag and a request form.
Before you start
- You will be given some equipment to help you collect the urine. This is usually a large container, a plastic funnel, a bag and a request form.
- Check with your doctor or nurse whether your child needs to change what they eat or drink before or during the 24-hour period.
- You may want to choose a day when you and your child are both at home. Remember that you will need to collect the urine throughout the whole day and your child will need to take the container with them if they go out.
- Sometimes there is a small amount of liquid in the bottom of the container. Do not throw this out – this is a preservative which is required for some urine samples.
During the 24 hours
- Start when your child wakes up in the morning.
- Your child should wee and flush this first urine down the toilet.
- Write the exact time and date on the label on the container.
- Both the container and your child’s bladder are now empty.
- Then, collect every drop of urine your child passes over 24 hours. Use the funnel to get it all into the container.
- If your child finds it difficult to use the funnel, collect the urine into a clean, dry, non-metal object (like a potty, bowl or jug) – then pour this through the funnel into the container.
- If your child does a poo, make sure you collect the urine separately.
- Finish when your child wakes up the next morning. They should pass their first urine of the day into the container at the same time as their first urine of the day before – even if they do not feel they ‘need’ to wee at that time.
- Write the exact date and time on the container label. Now the container has all the urine your child has passed in a 24-hour period.
- Keep the container away from heat and light, and with the cap closed tightly, between each time you use it.
After the 24 hours
- Fill in the label on the container, with your child’s full name and date of birth, the clinic or GP surgery that asked for the urine collection, and today’s date.
- Check that the cap is screwed on tightly.
- Return the filled container with the request card to the clinic or GP surgery, as soon as possible.
- If you have it for a day or two, keep it away from heat and light. If you have it for longer, keep it in the fridge.
Any problems
If you have a problem collecting the 24-hour urine sample – for example, if you forget one of the urines – let your doctor or nurse know. You may need to start again.
If the sample is not accurate, this may affect important decisions about your child’s treatment.