‘Please bring a urine sample’

Do you know what to do when you are asked to bring a urine sample in a white-topped bottle as part of an annual review? Do you know what this is for?

Well, we need this sample to check if there is protein in your urine. Protein in your urine may (but doesn’t have to) be the first sign of damage to your kidneys from your long-term condition. The request is usually with conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. We will also ask you to bring this urine sample when you already are known with kidney problems.

To know what to do for this request, please watch the video below:

Have you been asked to bring a urine sample to check for infection instead?

In this case you will need to bring your urine sample in a red-topped bottle. You may see that there is a powder in this bottle. This is not contamination, but has the purpose. Please, don’t tip this out of the bottle before you put your sample in, but leave it where it is.

You will also (on both samples) need to put your details, your name, your date of birth and the date (and time) you produced the sample. Both samples don’t keep overnight, so bring it into the surgery before 2 pm on a weekday.

Tip: It is easier to write on the bottle before you have put the urine sample in.