How Long Can A Urine Sample Be Kept At Room Temperature

At room temperature, urine specimen stability is limited to 2 – 6 hours, depending on the urine constituents tested.1,2 Refrigerated urine specimens are stable for 24 hours without chemical preservative added, or three days when preserved (LifeLabs in-house specimen stability study, 2018).

How long is a pee sample good for?

Storing a urine sample – If you can’t hand your urine sample in within 1 hour, you should put the container in a sealed plastic bag then store it in the fridge at around 4C. Do not keep it for longer than 24 hours. The bacteria in the urine sample can multiply if it is not kept in a fridge.

What happens to urine when urine left at room temperature?

Changes when urine is left for a longer period at room temperature:

Urine Substance	Changes taking place
pH	It will increase and is alkaline
Color	Urine will become darker
Turbidity	This will increase
Odor	This will be foul-smelling/increased

Do you have to keep a 24-hour urine sample refrigerated?

What happens during a 24-hour urine collection? – A 24-hour urine collection may be done on an outpatient basis. This means you go home the same day. Or it may be done during a hospital stay. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider’s practices. Generally, a 24-hour urine collection follows this process:

1. You will be given one or more containers for collecting and storing your urine. A brown plastic container is typically used. A special pan that fits in the toilet or a urinal may be used to collect the urine. You will need to transfer the urine from the collecting container to the storage container. You will need to keep it cold.
2. The 24-hour collection may start at any time during the day after you urinate. But your healthcare provider may tell you when to start. It is common to start the collection the first thing in the morning. It is important to collect all urine in the following 24-hour period.
3. Don’t save the urine from your first time urinating. Flush this first specimen, but note the time. This is the start time of the 24-hour collection.
4. All urine, after the first flushed specimen, must be saved, stored, and kept cold. This means keeping it either on ice or in a refrigerator for the next 24 hours.
5. Try to urinate again at the same time, 24 hours after the start time, to finish the collection process. If you can’t urinate at this time, it is OK.
6. Once the urine collection has been completed, the urine containers need to be taken to the lab as soon as possible. If you are doing the urine collection at home, you will be given instructions on how and where to take it.
7. Depending on your specific health problem, you may be asked to repeat the collection over several days.

What urine samples need to be refrigerated?

Two Consecutive 24-hour Urine Collections: Patient Instructions – To the Physician: You may wish to photocopy these pages so that you can provide your patients with written instructions. Follow the directions below to collect urine for analysis by your physician.

1. Remember to store all urine in the refrigerator from the time collection begins until you take the containers to your physician.
2. Important: Do not allow the urine from one container to mix with the urine in the other container.
3. The urine container may contain a preservative of acetic acid, boric acid, or hydrochloric acid, which may cause burns if touched.

If ingested, a physician should be contacted immediately. First 24-hour Urine Collection (Hydrochloric Acid “HCl” Preservative) 1. Urinate in the usual manner on awakening, making sure to empty your bladder completely. Do not save this urine, but you must record the date and time of this first urination.

Example: 03/13/01, 7:30 AM.2. All urine passed during the remaining 24-hour period must be collected in this first container, labeled “HCl Preservative.” Urine passed during bowel movements must also be collected.3. Urine may be collected in another clean container and then carefully poured into the first 24-hour collection container.4.

The next morning, urinate on awakening, but this time include the urine in the HCl preservative container. Record the date and time of this urination. Example: 03/14/01, 7:30 AM. This is the last sample to be included in the container marked “HCl Preservative.” Second 24-hour Urine Collection (No Preservative) 1.

Record the date and time of the first urine of the day. The time is the same as the last entry of the HCl preservative container. (See number 4 above.) 2. From now on, all urine passed for the next 24-hour period must be included in the second container, labeled “No Preservative.” Urine passed during bowel movements must also be collected.3.

Urine may be collected in another clean container and then carefully poured into the second container.4. On the following morning, the first urine of the day must be included in this second container. Record the date and time of this urination. Example: 03/15/01, 7:30 AM.

Urine Testing: Preservative Quick Reference Chart

Analyte	Sample Time	Preser- vative(s)	Target pH	Storage	Rejection Criteria	Stability
Key: d = day(s); h = hour(s); m = month(s); w = week(s); y = year(s); FZ = frozen; RF = refrigerated; RT = room temperature
Albumin	Timed, random, or 24-hour	None	4-7	Refrigerate	Visual presence of blood in sample; pH <3	RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Aldosterone	24-hour	None or boric acid	4-8	Refrigerate	Original container with pH <2	With boric acid: RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Amino acids, quantitative	Random or 24-hour	None		Freeze		RT, RF: unstable, FZ: 14 d
Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)	Random or 24-hour	Acetic acid; protect from light	<6	Freeze	Unprotected from light	Preserved (acidified) and protected from light: RF: 3 d, FZ: 1 m
Amylase	24-hour	None		Refrigerate		RT, RF: 14 d
Arsenic	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
β 2 -microglobulin	Random	None	6-8	Refrigerate		pH 6-8: RT, RF: 7 d, FZ: 14 d
Benzene metabolite	Random (sampling time is end of shift of industrial exposure monitoring)	None		Room temperature		RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
C-Peptide, urine	Random or 24-hour	None or boric acid	4-7	Freeze	pH 8	RT: 1 d, RF: 7 d, FZ: 348 d
Cadmium	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Calcium	24-hour	6N HCl	<2	Room temperature		Acidified (pH <2): RT, RF: 14 d
Cannabinoids:creatinine ratio	Random	None		Refrigerate		No preservative; RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Catecholamines, fractionated, total	Random or 24-hour	6N HCl	0-3	Refrigerate	Original container with pH >5; specimen without preservative. Note: If original container is received with pH >3 but <5, adjust pH to <3 with 6N HCl.	Acidified (pH <5): RT: 3 d, RF: 14 d, FZ: 30 d
Chloride	24-hour	None		Room temperature or refrigerate	Collection with HCl	Refrigerated during collection: RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Chromium	Random	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Citric acid	24-hour	6N HCl or frozen with no preservative	1-3	Freeze	Acetic or boric acid	Acidified: RT, RF: 14 d Nonacidified: FZ: 14 d
Cobalt	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Copper	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Cortisol, free	24-hour	None or any		Refrigerate		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Creatine	24-hour	None		Freeze	6N HCl, boric acid, or alkali added; thawed specimen
Creatinine	Random or 24-hour	None or any		Room temperature, refrigerate, or freeze		RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Cyclic AMP	Random	None		Freeze		FZ: 14 d
Cystine	24-hour	None, 6N HCl or 1g/L Boric Acid		Freeze	Receipt of non-frozen sample	FZ: 14 d
Glucose	24-hour	Boric acid or NaF		Refrigerate		RF: 14 d
Heavy metals	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Histamine	24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT: 14 d
Homovanillic acid (HVA)	Random or 24-hour	None or 6N HCl		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA)	Random or 24-hour	None or boric acid	4-8	Refrigerate	Original container with pH <2	RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Immunofixation	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Lead	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Magnesium	24-hour	6N HCl	<2	Refrigerate	No preservative; presence of blood; improper labeling	Collect with no preservative: acidify to pH 1 prior to assay. RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Mercury	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Metanephrines (total and fractionated)	Random or 24-hour	None or 6N HCl		Refrigerate		Nonacidified: RT: 3 d, RF: 14 d Acidified: RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Myoglobin	Random	None		Refrigerate		Unstable in acid pH; RF: 3 d, FZ: 14 d
Nickel	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Osmolality	Random or 24-hour	None		Refrigerate		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Oxalate	24-hour	6N HCl	0-2	Room temperature or refrigerate	Improper labeling	Acidified: RT, RF: 7 d FZ: 14 d
Phenol	Random	None		Room temperature		RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Phosphorus	24-hour	6N HCl	0-2	Room temperature		Acidified: RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Porphobilinogen (PBG)	Random or 24-hour	Acetic acid; protect from light		Freeze	Container received unfrozen; container not protected from light	RF: 24 h Preserved with acetic acid: FZ: 1 m
Porphyrins	Random or 24-hour	Sodium carbonate or none; protect from light		Refrigerate	Container not protected from light	RT: unstable, RF: 7 d, FZ: 14 d
Potassium	24-hour	None or 6N HCl		Room temperature		RT, RF: 14 d
Pregnancy test	Random (use first morning specimen)	None		Refrigerate
Protein, total	24-hour	None		Refrigerate	Visual presence of blood in sample; pH <3	RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Selenium	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Sodium	24-hour	None or 6N HCl		Refrigerate		RT, RF: 14 d
Urea nitrogen	24-hour	None		Refrigerate		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d
Uric acid	24-hour	None		Room temperature or refrigerate	Original container with acid, pH <6	RT, RF: 14 d
Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)	Random or 24-hour	None or 6N HCl		Room temperature		RT: 7 d, RF, FZ: 14 d
Xylose tolerance	5-hour	None		Room temperature
Zinc	Random or 24-hour	None		Room temperature		RT, RF, FZ: 14 d

How long do dried urine samples last?

The benefits of dried urine samples include: –

Accurate lab analysis – Most labs certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) consider dried urine samples the best for urinalysis when tracking the effectiveness of hormone treatments, or detecting illicit drugs and anabolic steroids in athletes or other subjects. Convenience and ease of use – Subjects can spot wet urine onto a urine filter paper card or the absorbent tip of a Mitra ® device. These are “microsamples,” which are dried before sending to the lab for analysis. Ease of shipment – Once the Mitra device tips are dipped into the urine cup to collect a sample, they are enclosed in their plastic cartridge and sealed in a small specimen pouch that has a packet of drying desiccant (gel silica) inside. The specimen pouch is then slipped into a mailing envelope and sent to the lab that will perform the urine testing. Less messy – Handling wet urine samples can be messy, awkward and inconvenient—both at home and in the lab. Dried urine sampling is less messy, more convenient, and less likely to be diluted, contaminated, or altered by the test subjects. Sample stability – Dried urine samples are shelf-stable and can remain for up to 30 days at room temperature.

Many healthcare practitioners are switching to DUTCH (dried urine testing for comprehensive hormones) testing. This approach provides an extensive profile of adrenal and sex hormones in addition to their metabolites. More clinical labs are also beginning to adopt the DUTCH test, which is the leading approach in hormone panels.

It accurately identifies symptoms of hormonal imbalances by creating the complete picture of the hormone levels, which serum or saliva testing cannot provide. While dried urine sampling offers many benefits, the adoption rate is still somewhat slow among labs. This can be attributed to the fact that most labs are simply more accustomed to wet sampling methods.

The process of transitioning from wet to dried urine sampling will require some time, training and practice, but is worth the effort.

Why is early morning urine the best sample to be tested?

Collection – Generally, it doesn’t matter what time of day you collect a urine sample, but there are occasional exceptions. Your doctor may, for example, request a first morning sample because the urine is more concentrated and therefore it is more likely to show up any abnormalities.

Or if the doctor is looking for glucose in the urine they may ask you to collect a sample after a meal. You will probably be asked for a “mid-stream” sample. Urine is naturally sterile so if a test shows up bacteria this can be a sign of infection. By taking a sample from the middle of the stream you are reducing the likelihood of contamination from bacteria and cells from the surrounding skin.

This is important – contamination due to improper collection can mean having to provide a second sample or even result in unnecessary treatment.

Does temperature affect volume of urine?

Water Balance The kidneys play an important role in water homeostasis. Water is mainly resorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule and loop of Henle, but fine adjustments are made in the distal tubule under the influence of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). For instance, water is lost by the body in hot weather in sweat.

1. This triggers the release of ADH into the blood which acts on the cells of the distal tubule and collecting duct to increase water resorption thus reducing the amount excreted.
2. You might notice that in hot weather, you only produce small volumes of urine as the body is fighting to conserve water.
3. If water is in excess, ADH levels are reduced limiting the amount of water resorbed back into the blood but increasing the volume eliminated in the urine.

If you drink a pint or so of fluid you will notice that within an hour your urine volume will increase and the excess water will therefore be eliminated. : Water Balance

What happens when you store urine for a long time?

Urinary infections –

The risk of a urinary tract infection is increased when you hold in your urine for a long time. Bacteria are present naturally in the urinary tract and are excreted with the urine. When the urine is held in the bladder, bacteria may build up and this can cause infection in any part of the urinary tract. UTIs are painful and once triggered can keep recurring.

Does temperature affect how much you pee?

Why do we urinate more in cold weather? – Steve Garnett is the lead Consultant Urologist at Benenden Hospital. According to Mr Garnett, there’s always an influx of patients with urinary symptoms over the winter period and especially in the new year. “It’s a fact that urinary symptoms do get worse in the cold weather.

What foods to avoid before 24 hour urine test?

Patient must have diet free of avocados, bananas, tomatoes, plums, eggplant, hickory nuts, walnuts, pineapple and mollusks for 2 days prior to and during the collection. If advised by a physician, the patient should be off all drugs for 3 days. Restrict caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for 24 hours prior to collection.

How do you transport 24 hour urine collection?

Urine Preservative and Transport List Patient Instructions To collect a 24-hour urine specimen:

1. Follow your physician’s directions regarding intake of food, drink, or drugs before and during collection.
2. Empty bladder completely on awakening in the morning and discard this urine specimen.
3. Record date and time under “start” and begin the test (e.g., 5/12/10, 7:00 a.m.).
4. Collect all urine passed during the rest of the day and night for the next 24 hours. Do not urinate directly into the container. Collect in another clean container and then carefully pour into the 24-hour collection container. Note: If possible, keep container refrigerated during collection. Use a portable cooler with ice as an alternative to a refrigerator.
5. Make final collection the next morning at the same time and record under “finish” (e.g., 5/13/10, 7:00 a.m.).
6. Take the 24-hour specimen to your physician’s office or laboratory as soon as possible. Note: If possible, keep container cool during transport using a portable cooler with ice or an insulated cooler.

Lab Instructions

1. Most 24-hour urine specimens can be collected in a clean, nonmetal container without preservatives if the specimen is maintained refrigerated or on ice during collection and transport to the laboratory. ARUP provides 24-hour collection containers (supply #16419) with peel-off labels to record times and volume. Affix these labels to containers and transport tubes.
2. When the specimen is received by your laboratory:
   • Pool entire collection into one container.
   • Mix specimen 15–30 times by inversion of the sealed container.
   • Measure total volume.
   • Record both collection time and total volume.
3. If requesting a single test, refer to the Laboratory Test Directory to determine required submission volume, method of preservation, and acceptable transportation conditions.
4. If requesting multiple tests, more than one method of preservation may be required. According to the Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, urine should not be collected at the same time for two or more tests for which different preservatives are required during specimen collection. However, if only a single 24-hour collection is available, and more than one method of preservation is specified for the tests that are ordered, use the following directions:
   • First, measure and record pH of well-mixed, unpreserved urine.
   • Second, remove aliquots, adjust aliquot pH according to instructions in the test directory, and label aliquots appropriately.
5. Submit urine specimens in ARUP standard transport tubes unless otherwise specified. Pour 4.5 mL into each tube and secure cap. Complete the peel-off label with recorded time and volume, and affix to each ARUP standard transport tube. Note: Do not exceed maximum indicated fill indicator on tube, as freezing will cause specimen to expand in volume.
6. Label each aliquot with the following:
• Patient information:
  • Name
  • Identification number
  • Collection Information
  • Date and time
  • Total volume
  • Collection duration (i.e., 24-hour)
• Specify preservative or no preservative pH value
• Name of requested test

How much urine do you need for a urine test?

Sample Collection Urine drug testing generally requires a minimum of 30 mL of urine (depending on the kit type) collected in a private restroom.

How do you take a urine sample early in the morning?

First Morning Urine Collections 1. Avoid strenuous or sexual activity for 6 hours before going to bed and during the night before the collection. Do not collect urine if you are ill (e.g. with ‘flu), are menstruating, or have signs of a urinary tract infection (needing to pass urine frequently with burning or pain).2.

Before going to bed, empty your bladder as completely as you can and discard the urine.3. Immediately after getting up in the morning, pass a portion of the urine formed overnight into the bottle provided. (It does not matter of you have had to get up during the night to pass urine).4. Take the urine sample to your doctor’s surgery as soon as possible so that it can be sent to the laboratory.

For this reason, please do not collect the urine on a Saturday or Sunday morning. : First Morning Urine Collections

Why does my urine turn cloudy in the fridge?

Urinalysis: Turbidity – Now it’s also important to look at the turbidity of the urine. When you have a cloudy urine, you can have all kinds of things. It could be bacteria. It could be leukocytes. Or it could just be crystals. As I said before, urine that’s in the refrigerator may turn cloudy because of the precipitation of crystals.

• If that’s the case, recentrifuging the urine, acidifying it, or rewarming it to room temperature will clear the urine.
• It will not clear a urine full of white cells and bacteria.
• When there are crystals, most of the time it’s the amorphous crystals that precipitate out and give this cloudy color.
• And if it’s an alkaline urine, that’s going to be phosphates.

Or if it’s an acid urine, it’s going to be urates. A hazy urine often is one that has a lot of mucus in it. And the mucus can be from vaginal secretions. It can be from mucus threads in the urine. We see a variety of children who have bladder augmentations with intestinal cells that produce mucus, and we can see a thick mucus plugs in those urine.

• It’s rare for us to see a milky urine, but if there are a lot of fat globules in the urine, you will see a milky color.
• And that’s probably only going to be seen in our population in someone with very severe nephrotic syndrome that’s uncontrolled, and they have a high cholesterol and a lot of oval fat bodies in their urine.

The most common thing we see is the smoky colored urine. It’s usually red-brown, and it’s full of red blood cells.

Can you culture refrigerated urine?

Midstream Urine (Culture and Sensitivity) Before You Start.

Read the instructions carefully, and follow each step as directed.

Early morning urine samples are preferred.

Use the sterile screw-lid urine container provided by the laboratory.

Step 1 Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Step 2 Remove the lid on the container and set it aside. Do Not touch the inner surface of the lid or the container. Step 3 For women, keep the legs apart and hold the skin folds apart while voiding. For men, retract the foreskin (if uncircumcised) while voiding.

Step 4 Clean genital area with towelette prior to voiding Step 5 Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet. Step 6 Midway through urination, fill the container to half full. Step 7 Finish voiding in the toilet. Step 8 Replace the lid and tighten firmly. Step 9 Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after collection. Step 10 Label the container with the patient’s first and last name, MCP, date of birth, and the date and time of collection of the sample. Step 11 For sanitary reasons, the container must be enclosed in a plastic biohazard bag. Refrigerate the urine sample IMMEDIATELY and deliver to the Laboratory as soon as possible after completion of the collection. Urine refrigerated for more than 24 hours cannot be used for “Culture” or “C & S” and will be rejected by the Laboratory.You must present your MCP and your Requisition to the Laboratory Personnel.

: Midstream Urine (Culture and Sensitivity)

Are urine specimens stable for 2 hours?

Based on the urine stability limitations, we recommend health care providers follow these steps when collecting specimens and interpreting results for urinalysis testing: Please avoid sending to LifeLabs urine specimens kept at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. These specimens should be recollected.

What is the Dutch urine test?

What Does DUTCH Test? 4 Groups of Hormones, Metabolites, & Other Biomarkers DUTCH exists to make it easier for patients and their healthcare providers to find answers to complex clinical questions through industry-leading functional hormone testing and education.

The DUTCH Test is a comprehensive sex and adrenal hormone test that includes metabolites and organic acids to bring patient hormone status into focus. In their active form, hormones act as chemical messengers to control, facilitate, or trigger various processes in the body. As active hormones complete their work and new hormones are produced, active hormones need to be cleared from the body via the urine.

Steroid hormones do not dissolve well in water so they cannot pass directly into the urine. Instead, they must be broken down in the liver and kidneys to form smaller, water-soluble particles (known as metabolites) which can be excreted. Certain metabolites can be harmful if they are produced in excess, which is one important reason to test. The DUTCH Test evaluates metabolites and biomarkers derived from estrogens, progesterone, and androgens.

Estrogen Analytes	Progesterone Analytes	Androgen Analytes
Estrone (E1)	a-Pregnanediol	DHEA-S
Estradiol (E2)	b-Pregnanediol	Androsterone
Estriol (E3, aka 16-OHE2)		Etiocholanolone
2-OHE1		Testosterone
4-OHE1		5a-DHT
16-OHE1		5a-Androstanediol
2-MeOE1		5b-Androstanediol
2-OHE2		Epi-Testosterone
4-OHE2
Total Estrogen

The estrogen analytes measured on the DUTCH Test indicate a patient’s phase 1 estrogen detoxification status (also called hydroxylation) and phase 2 estrogen detoxification (methylation) status. Understanding both estrogen and progesterone in the body can help providers understand estrogen-related cancer risk, autoimmunity, PMS, and fertility issues in their patients.

Knowing these pathways can also assist the practitioner with potential suggestions for diet and lifestyle modification, supplementation, or hormone replacement therapy. Androgen metabolites and biomarkers help determine the activity of 5a- and 5b-reductase. The more androgenic 5a-pathway can be useful to understand when working with men who experience male pattern baldness, cystic acne, and prostate issues.

Women might experience cystic acne, female pattern baldness, hirsutism and PCOS when their metabolism favors the 5a- pathway. DUTCH adrenal testing includes many more important markers than tested in blood or saliva. The DUTCH Test includes eight adrenal analytes so providers can evaluate the health of their patients’ HPA axis.

Adrenal Metabolite

Cortisol awakening response (CAR)

Diurnal pattern of free cortisol

Diurnal pattern of free cortisone

Optional extra cortisol sample

a-THF

b-THF

b-THE

Metabolized cortisol (THF+THE)

Free cortisol is the active form of the hormone which binds to receptors and turns them on. Testing free cortisol helps understand the circadian rhythm and answers questions about a patient’s low energy and sleep trouble. Metabolized cortisol is an indication of total cortisol production and metabolized through the liver in one day.

This marker is specific to urine testing and cannot be found in blood or saliva testing. The DUTCH Test includes metabolized cortisol because it can be greatly influenced by cases of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, long-term stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, infection, poor liver function, anorexia, critical illness, and more.

Cortisone is the inactive form of cortisol. Testing this hormone provides a secondary look at the circadian rhythm. It is also helpful to understand as some people are more prone to the deactivation of cortisol into cortisone which can further their symptoms of fatigue.

By looking at the entire adrenal picture with DUTCH testing, healthcare practitioners have a much more comprehensive look into the health of their patient’s cortisol production and response to help them achieve their goals. make up the last portion of the DUTCH Test. They include nutritional and neurotransmitter metabolites, as well as markers for neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, gut health, and melatonin.

OATs can round out hormone testing in a way that provides additional information about the nutritional status, gut, and brain health of a patient. Testing organic acids gives healthcare practitioners an even more comprehensive understanding of their patients’ overall health. : What Does DUTCH Test? 4 Groups of Hormones, Metabolites, & Other Biomarkers

How long do Dutch test results take?

Hormones and hormonal imbalance are always hot topics, and with good reason. Your body is constantly being affected by your body’s mini messengers, and if they’re out of whack, you’re probably not feeling on top of your game. Fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, low libido, and irregular menstrual cycles are just a few of the common symptoms of hormone imbalance.

They may be symptoms you’ve suffered with for years, or they could have recently started popping up. The simplest way to understand what’s up (or down) with your hormones, is by testing them. But, first What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted by specific glands in your body.

These glands, called endocrine glands, release hormones into the blood where they travel to their target tissues and organs exerting a specific effect. Hormones are important because they are necessary to our survival! Their effects are systemic, and control essential functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, mood, reproduction, growth, appetite, and sleep.

1. Some of these bigger hitters include cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and melatonin.
2. What are symptoms of a hormone imbalance? Hormonal imbalance can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms depending on which hormones are affected, and in which way the scale is tilted.
3. Some of these include: -Insomnia -Fatigue -Trouble concentrating -Depression -Anxiety -Irritability -Memory loss -Weight gain -Chronic allergies -Bone loss -Irregular periods -Breast tenderness -Hot flashes -Vaginal dryness -Low libido -Heart disease risk -Breast cancer risk Ok, so some of those symptoms sound familiar What do I do now? Insert the DUTCH test.

What is the DUTCH test? The DUTCH test, or the Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones, is a simple dried urine test capable of gathering an extensive amount of information on hormones and how they are metabolized in the body. Measuring both hormones and their metabolites can give a better overall picture of hormone production.

• The test is compact, concise and user friendly.
• It is set-up so that patients can take it home and collect samples without disrupting their usual schedule.
• The kit consists of an envelope containing instructions, a requisition form, and 5 paper strips for sample collection.4 dried urine samples are collected throughout a 24-hour period: -Waking -2 hours after waking -Dinner time (~5:00pm) -Bed time -Extra overnight sample if needed After collecting your samples, they are sent into the lab via air mail.

Results can take approximately 2 weeks to be returned. You will then receive a detailed and straightforward report from the lab. This will include an overview of hormone levels (total estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, total DHEA production, 24-hour free circulating cortisol, and metabolized cortisol).

• It also includes a breakdown of the hormones and their metabolites, as well as a list of hormones with their normal ranges.
• What exactly is tested? -8 estrogen metabolites (E1, E2, E3, 2-OH- E1, 4-OH-E1, 16-OH-E1, 2-methoxy-E1) -8 androgens (including Testosterone, DHT and DHEA-S) -Progesterone (2) -Cortisol (3) -Melatonin (6OHMS) -8-OHdG -The diurnal pattern of Free Cortisol and Cortisone are also provided, including the Cortisol Awakening Response.

DUTCH vs. other testing methods Dried urine testing has become a very sought after form of hormone testing as it is a good reflection of not only hormone levels, but hormone metabolites. Metabolites are the downstream breakdown products of hormones and are excreted in the urine.

1. Some of these metabolites can be harmful, so testing their levels can be useful in determining the root cause of symptoms.
2. Saliva testing: Useful for testing free cortisol, but does not measure cortisol metabolites.
3. To properly characterize a patient’s cortisol status, free and metabolized cortisol should be measured to avoid misleading results when cortisol clearance is abnormally high or low.

Likewise with sex hormones, measuring estrogen and androgen metabolites gives a fuller picture for more precise clinical diagnosis. Serum testing: Adrenal hormones cannot be effectively tested in serum because free cortisol cannot be tested throughout the day.

Can I use second morning urine?

Take the pregnancy test first thing in the morning before you drink any fluids. – Coffee’s going to have to wait a second! Levels of hCG will be strongest with first morning urine — more concentrated urine guarantees a more accurate test. Your test will still be valid if it’s the afternoon or you’ve already had water, but first morning urine will result in a stronger results line.

Is morning pee more accurate?

At-home pregnancy test – An at-home test uses your pee to look for HCG. They contain special strips that detect HCG. Most at-home pregnancy tests are about 99% effective when used correctly. That’s about the same accuracy rate as pregnancy tests done in your healthcare provider’s office.

Pee in a clean cup. Then, place one to several drops of your pee on a chemical strip. Place the pregnancy test strip in your urine stream while you pee. Pee in a clean cup and then dip the test strip in the pee while it’s still in the cup.

For many of these tests, HCG can be detected in your urine about 10 days after conception. However, taking it after you miss your period reduces the chance of getting a false-negative result. A missed period typically happens around 14 days after conception. There are a few things to keep in mind when you take a home pregnancy test, including:

Use your first morning pee if you can. This is the time of day when your HCG levels will be the most concentrated and easily detected. If you do it at another time of day, try to make sure your pee has been in your bladder for at least three hours. Don’t drink excessive amounts of fluids before you take a pregnancy test. This can dilute (thin out) your HCG levels. Check the expiration date on the package. Read the directions that come with the test thoroughly before starting the test, and follow every step exactly.

Can I bring a urine sample from home?

A clean catch is a method of collecting a urine sample to be tested. The clean-catch urine method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagina from getting into a urine sample. If possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.

Sit on the toilet with your legs spread apart. Use two fingers to spread open your labia.Use the first wipe to clean the inner folds of the labia. Wipe from the front to the back.Use a second wipe to clean over the opening where urine comes out (urethra), just above the opening of the vagina.

To collect the urine sample:

Keeping your labia spread open, urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, then stop the flow of urine.Hold the urine cup a few inches (or a few centimeters) from the urethra and urinate until the cup is about half full.You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.

BOYS AND MEN Clean the head of the penis with a sterile wipe. If you are not circumcised, you will need to pull back (retract) the foreskin first.

Urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, and then stop the flow of urine.Then collect a sample of urine into the clean or sterile cup, until it is half full.You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.

INFANTS You will be given a special bag to collect the urine. It will be a plastic bag with a sticky strip on one end, made to fit over your baby’s genital area. If the collection is being taken from an infant, you may need extra collection bags. Wash the area well with soap and water, and dry. Open and place the bag on your infant.

For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag.For girls, place the bag over the labia.

You can put on a diaper over the bag. Check the baby often and remove the bag after the urine collects in it. Active infants may displace the bag, so you may need to make more than one attempt. Drain the urine into the container you were given and return it to the health care provider as directed.

Return the sample to the provider.If you are at home, place the cup in a plastic bag and put the bag in the refrigerator until you take it to the lab or your provider’s office.

Urine culture – clean catch; Urinalysis – clean catch; Clean catch urine specimen; Urine collection – clean catch; UTI – clean catch; Urinary tract infection – clean catch; Cystitis – clean catch Castle EP, Wolter CE, Woods ME. Evaluation of the urologic patient: testing and imaging.

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Approach to the patient with urinary tract infection. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine,26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 268. Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

What not to do during 24 hour urine collection?

During the urine collection period, do not drink alcohol or beverages that have caffeine or eat food that have avocado, banana, eggplant, tomato, plum, pineapple, or walnuts. Do not use tobacco during this period.

How much urine do you need for a urine test?

Sample Collection Urine drug testing generally requires a minimum of 30 mL of urine (depending on the kit type) collected in a private restroom.

What is a clean catch urine sample?

A clean catch urine specimen is collected to find out what kinds of germs (bacteria), if any, are in your child’s pee (urine). The test must be done properly for your child to get the right medical treatment. Follow the steps below to help prevent germs on the outside of your child’s body from getting into the urine specimen.


Skye Skinner