Question about urine samples

[NightmaresMary]

Why do they insist on telling people to have a bath or shower before giving a mid stream sample?

They didn't with me!

i've never heard that before!

Not heard it either! But I know they tell you to be careful about getting anything else into the pot which could affect the result - maybe that's why?!

presumably to minimise the risk of contamination of the sample with skin organisms.

I know! My friend was told to bath or shower before giving a sample and they lost the first sample, the second sample was contaminated and now has had a letter insisting that she does shower before giving a sample! This has been going on for two months now. So she need to know if everything is okay.
She literally got out of the shower then gave a sample, so really cannot see the problem.
This is her second child and never had this "advice" before.
They tested your wee in the midwives appointments before.
And surely urine is on the inside and sterile?
Seems rather strange to me and she now feels that she is dirty or something.

How bizarre! My midwife tested my samples during my appts and I was never told to shower first . Only advice was that the sample was better if from first thing in the morning but not essential. DD2 is only 18 weeks old so this can't be out of date.

Message withdrawn

How bizzare - my midewife just used to test mine (no advise to shower first), rinse it out and give me the bottle for next time! Now THAT is unhygienic!

Exactly it seems very bizarre.

Message withdrawn

If the sample is purely to test for glucose & protein, ie. the standard test at each antenatal visit then a midstream specimen isn't really necessary. Whether it gets contaminated with cells from your normal vaginal discharge & gives a false reading of proteinuria is unlikely.

If the sample is to be sent for culture & sensitivity in the case of a suspected urine infection then the MSU is the recommended sample. The idea is that the first part of your stream flushes out any bacteria in your urethra, folowed by the "cleaner" midstream part.

Policies do vary from trust to trust but I have to say.....never heard of that one before.

I have never heard of this either.

I shall ask how my friend got on when I hopefully see her on Wednesday.