Some children need to have their urine tested at home for a certain amount of time. You will need to collect a urine sample, test it with a dipstick and record the results to bring to the next clinic visit.
Why do I need to test urine at home?
You may need to test your child’s urine at home each day for a while, to look for:
- protein
- blood
- signs of an infection
This is important for children who have some conditions affecting the kidney, including:
- nephrotic syndrome – when a lot of protein is lost in the urine, causing swelling in the body
- glomerulonephritis – a group of conditions that affect the kidneys, causing protein and blood to leak into the urine
- Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) – blood vessels in the body, often including the skin, stomach and kidneys, become inflamed, causing a skin rash and stomach and joint pains
- recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) – for children who have UTIs that keep coming back
The urine test results will give important information about your child’s heath and the best treatment to use.
How do I test urine at home?
You will be given:
- a sterile (completely clean) container to collect urine
- dipsticks for each day that you need to collect urine
- instructions about how to read the dipstick
Your doctor or nurse will tell you what time to collect urine. For example, if your child has nephrotic syndrome, you will probably be asked to collect a sample of his or her first morning urine – the first urine passed after waking.
- Put the dipstick in the urine sample and remove it.
- The results will take some time to show. You will need a watch or a clock with a second hand or that is digital to make sure you read the dipstick at the correct time. Use the instructions included in the package.
Keeping records
Record the result in a diary – make sure you include:
- the date
- the urine test result
- any medicines taken (including the dose, or amount)
- any comments about your child’s health (e.g. feeling unwell)
Bring the diary to your next clinic visit.