Spot urine sample

Based on EHES Manual, Part B. Fieldwork procedures, 2nd edition, 2016 Available at: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-701-5 These slides can be used freely, translated and adapted to national use (e.g. concerning the equipment). However, it is important to keep in mind that no changes should be made to the measurement techniques, which need to be standardized.

Exclusion criteria Spot urine sample is not collected from participants with any condition that would make urine collection difficult with menstruation who refuse Reasons for exclusion are recorded.

Pregnant participants Results may need to be analyzed separately from those of other participants. Pregnancy should be recorded. Harkitaan onko tarpeellinen tässä

The collection site Spot urine sample may be collected either at the examination site, or the participant may collect the sample at home before or after the health examination.

Spot urine sample collection Spot urine sample can be collected anytime during the day Ideally, spot samples are collected on a normal day with no preceding fasting

Equipment Sample cup that allows closed-system transfer of urine directly to an evacuated tube (recommended) Evacuated tube(s) Cryo vials must be used if stored at -70°C or colder Storage box for plastic tubes / cryo vials Freezer

Instructions to the participants (1) Give the participant: a sample cup and an evacuated tube / evacuated tubes a written instruction on collection of spot urine sample

Instructions to the participants (2) Instruct the participant to clean his/her hands and, if possible, genitals pass first some urine into to toilet pass then some urine into the sample cup the rest of the urine can be passed into the toilet.

Instructions to the participants (3) Instruct the participant to transfer the sample to evacuated tubes after urine collection in case a sample cup with integrated transfer device is used this stage can also be performed by survey personnel discard the remaining urine

Collecting the spot urine sample at home In case the participant collects the sample at home, a sample cup with integrated transfer device is used from which the participant transfers the sample into an evacuated tube The urine must not be frozen (under 0ᵒC) by the participant. The evacuated sample tube may be sent to the examination site or laboratory by mail

Processing of the sample Transfer the sample to evacuated tubes Label the tube(s) Store the tube(s) at -20ᵒC or -70ᵒC

Acknowledgements Slides prepared by: Laura Paalanen Photographs: Laura Paalanen and Erkki Vartiainen Experiences and feedback from the EHES network have been utilized in the preparation of these slides Funding: Preparation of the slides is part of the activities of the EHES Coordinating Centre which has received funding from the EC/DG SANTÉ in 2009-2012 through SANCO/2008/C2/02-SI2.538318 EHES and Grand Agreement number 2009-23-01, and in 2015-2017 through Grand Agreement number 664691/BRIDGE Health

Disclaimer The views expressed here are those of the authors and they do not represent the Commission’s official position.