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 urinary tract infection (UTI).
Sometimes tamariki (children) need a urine sample to check for kidney problems.
Urinary Tract Infection In Children
Collecting urine samples from children
Clean catch
Collecting a clean catch sample involves 'catching' a sample of clean urine from a baby or young child as they wee. You only need a small amount of urine to test for infection.
To collect clean catch sample, follow these steps.
Give your baby a drink or breastfeed 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 health professional).
Your health professional may show you how to gently tap on the lower part of your baby's tummy to encourage your baby to wee.
It can be tricky catching a wee - you may need to make a few attempts. This may not be practical when pēpi (babies) are unwell.
Bag urine
Your health professional may arrange for your child to have a bag urine. This is used for pēpi and tamariki who are not toilet trained.
Unfortunately, germs from the skin can contaminate a bag urine sample. This may make it look like your child has a UTI even if they don't. If the result indicates a possible UTI, your child may need a second urine sample.
To collect a bag collection sample, follow these steps.
Clean your child's genital area with soap and water.
Attach the urine collection bag, which has a sticky strip, over your baby's genital area. For boys, the entire penis can go in the bag. For girls, the bag goes over the labia.
You can put your baby’s nappy on over the bag.
Urine collects in the bag when your baby wees. Sometimes it can take a few attempts to get some wee.
Your health professional will test the bag urine sample.
Mid-stream urine (MSU)
For some tamariki, you can catch their urine when they wee. This is the most common way to collect urine in tamariki who are toilet trained.
To collect an MSU, follow these steps.
Wash your child's genital area with water and dry.
Get ready with the sterile container your health professional gave you.
Once your child starts weeing into the toilet, catch the middle part of the urine stream in the sterile container. You only need a small amount.
Your child can then finish weeing into the toilet.
Catheter sample
Sometimes, a child in hospital may need a catheter sample.
A health professional will pass a plastic tube (a catheter) through the urethra into the bladder to collect urine.
Testing urine samples
Dipstick test
Your health professional may test the urine sample with a dipstick test. This can help look for signs of infection in the wee.
Urine culture test
A urine culture test can confirm a UTI. Lab staff will add the urine sample to a special gel and wait to see if any bacteria grow.
If any bacteria grow, the lab staff can identify what kind. Health professionals can decide which antibiotics are best. Culture results may take a few days.
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 lab.
