1. Spot urine sample

2. Based on EHES Manual, Part B. Fieldwork procedures, 2nd edition, 2016
Available at:
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.

3. 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.

4. Pregnant participants
Results may need to be analyzed separately from those of other participants.
Pregnancy should be recorded.
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5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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 through SANCO/2008/C2/02-SI EHES and Grand Agreement number , and in through Grand Agreement number /BRIDGE Health

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