Reasons for having a urine test
Testing a sample of your child's urine (wee) is the only way to know for sure if they have a UTI (urinary tract infection). Sometimes a urine sample is needed to check for kidney problems.
You might like to read this page together with the UTI page
How urine samples are collected in children
Mid stream urine sample for children out of nappies
Children who are out of nappies and who can wee when asked will normally provide an MSU (mid stream urine) sample.
Other ways of getting a sample in younger children
In younger children who are in nappies and cannot wee on request, an MSU is usually not possible. Several methods can be used:
- clean catch
- bag collection - if a UTI is suspected this is the least reliable method
- catheter sample
- SPA (suprapubic aspirate)
For all urine samples, regardless of how they are collected, the following apply:
- on the container write your child's first name, surname, date of birth, and the date and time you collected the sample
- it is important that the urine sample is fresh when tested so try to take it to the laboratory within 2 hours or put it in the fridge (not the freezer) until you can deliver it
MSU (mid stream urine) sample
- your child needs to start doing wee into the toilet
- then you catch some of the middle part of the urine stream in a sterile container (from your doctor)
- you don't need a large amount - your child can then finish doing wee into the toilet
Clean catch
- this involves 'catching' a sample of clean urine from a baby or young child as they wee
- give your baby a drink or breast feed to help fill the bladder
- clean your child's genital area with soap and water
- leave your child's nappy off and wait for them to wee and quickly catch a small amount in a sterile container (from your doctor)
- it can be difficult to time catching a wee
- you may need to make several attempts - this can be time-consuming and often not practical when babies are unwell
- a clean catch is only really practical to do in babies who are not yet mobile and so can lie still on their backs
- sometimes healthcare staff may show you how to gently tap on the lower part of your baby's tummy to encourage your baby to wee
Bag collection
- you attach a special plastic bag, which has a sticky strip, over your baby's genital area after cleaning very well with soap and water (for boys, the entire penis can go in the bag; for girls, the bag goes over the labia)
- you can put a nappy on, over the bag
- urine collects in the bag when your baby wees
- sometimes it can take several attempts to get some wee
- transfer the urine sample from the bag into the sterile container (from your doctor)
- don't leave the bag on overnight - if your child has not done a wee after 4 hours, put on another bag
- a bag urine sample is often contaminated by germs from the skin - this can make it look like your child has a UTI even if they don't really
- bag collection is the least reliable way of collecting a urine specimen in a baby
- if the result indicates a possible UTI, your child will need a sterile urine sample taken directly from the bladder to confirm the result
Sterile urine collection methods
Sterile urine collection methods are the best way to accurately diagnose a UTI. These include:
- catheter sample
- SPA (suprapubic aspirate)
Catheter sample
- a doctor or nurse passes a fine plastic tube, a catheter, through the urethra into the bladder so that they can collect a urine sample into a sterile container - the urethra is the tube from which urine passes out of the bladder
- your child needs to lie down with their ankles held together to make sure the catheter goes in cleanly - babies and young children may not like being held in this position, but it only takes a few minutes
- the test is uncomfortable - you should reassure and comfort your child during the test
SPA (suprapubic aspirate)
- your child lies down on their back and needs to be held still
- a doctor cleans the area well and then puts a small needle through the skin of the lower part of their tummy and into the bladder
- urine is collected straight from the bladder via the needle into the syringe
- SPAs are a very safe test and problems are rare
- in terms of pain for your child, it is similar to having a blood test
How urine samples are tested
A quick 'dipstick' (test strip) by your doctor or nurse provides clues
Your doctor or nurse first usually test the urine sample with a 'dipstick' (test strip). This can provide clues about whether your child may have a UTI.
Only the laboratory can give a final diagnosis by doing a 'culture'
There is only a final diagnosis once the urine sample goes to the laboratory. Staff there do a 'culture' - laboratory staff grow the bacteria in a special gel. This helps to identify what kind of bacteria it is.
Doctors can then decide which antibiotics to use to kill it. Culture results may take 24 to 48 hours.
If the dipstick test suggests a UTI, treatment usually starts before the culture results are available. The diagnosis and treatment may change once the culture results come back from the laboratory.
