Directions For Collecting A 24-Hour Urine Sample

Please contact us at general@porphyriafoundation.org or 866-APF-3635 (866-273-3635), and we will send a comprehensive doctor packet with instructions for testing, diagnosing and treating all porphyria types along with other brochures, booklets and articles for different types of porphyria for you and your doctor to review. We also send forms for FREE DNA testing.

Many members have asked about the proper way to collect a 24-hour urine sample. Currently, many tests are done by random spot urine testing, but 24-hour urine tests are still done. This is a general procedure, but you must check with your lab for specific instructions, as they can differ from what you find here or online.

1. Please use a dark plastic jug for collecting the urine that is provided by the lab, hospital or doctor. The urine should be protected from light during collection and shipping.
2. A 24-hour urine collection must be started at a specific time and ended at the same time the next day. You can choose any time that is convenient for you to start the collection. But you must also be sure that you can end the urine collection at the same time the next day.
3. Record the time that you have chosen to start the collection. You need to start the urine collection with an empty bladder. Therefore, at exactly this time, empty your bladder and discard the urine. In other words, when you start the urine collection, you should empty your bladder and not add that urine to the jug.
4. From that time on, add any urine that you pass to the jug. You do not need to record the time each time you urinate.
5. During the collection, store the urine jug tightly capped in a refrigerator or place it in an ice chest.
6. Exactly 24 hours after you start the urine collection, you should end the urine collection by emptying your bladder into the jug for the last time.