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24-hour urine collection: Why and how

Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar

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Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

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You have a kidney stone episode and your doctor asks you to collect your urine for 24 hours. Why oh why is this being asked of you? Isn’t it dreadful enough that you just had a kidney stone?

The only way to find out WHY you are forming kidney stones is to complete a urine collection.

The test results will tell your doctor how saturated your urine is with stone making crystals.

The more saturated your urine is, the more likely you are to form new stones.

Read the full article at kidneystones.uchicago.edu.

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Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar

About the Author

Jill Harris is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who specializes in kidney stone prevention. Her goal is to teach you what you need to know and, more importantly, how to put that knowledge to work so you can stop forming stones. For good.
  1. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    Hello,
    My question is, I had 24hr urine tests and is Oxalate 0.60 out 0.46 and another is 52.8 out of 40.5 . So that mean I have on oxalate diet? And what else can I do to stop having UTI?
    Thank you so much

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris Avatar
      Jill Harris

      Hi Hannah,
      Talk to your doc about dealing with the UTI- could be stone related, maybe not. Your oxalate is high and if you are a kidney stone former this could put you at risk. Go to the start page and get your free resources to start your prevention journey. kidneystonediet.com/start
      j

      Reply
  2. Kimberly amburgey Avatar
    Kimberly amburgey

    Hello I take 24 hr urine test every 6 months and I been having good labs but why would I keep making stones if my urine samples are good?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Kimberly.
      I would love to see those results. Perhaps the person looking at them is not asking you the right questions or perhaps some of your values are in normal range for that lab, but the lab doesn’t know where exactly we want stone formers to fall. Make sense? I have a 15 minute inexpensive call for just this if you want to understand better. Well worth it so you STOP making stones. kidneystonediet.com/shop
      j

      Reply
  3. Patricia Oros Avatar
    Patricia Oros

    I have hypoparathyroidism and make calcium stones am very low in citrate in urine <36 but nephrologist only put me on diuretic to keep me from expelling to much calcium..What about low citrate?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Patricia,
      You should ask your doc about this. Low citrate will def increase your kidney stone risk. And use of diuretics (some) could lower potassium and citrate so talk to doc.
      j

      Reply
  4. Sherron Berg Avatar
    Sherron Berg

    Hi Jill. I have an appointment with you in October. Do I get the 24 hour urine test from a doctor?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Sherron,
      Yes, your doc will order the urine test for you.
      Looking forward to helping.

      Reply
  5. cindy cort Avatar
    cindy cort

    How much 8s the 24 hour urine test review?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Cindy,
      Not sure what you are asking? LMK
      j

      Reply
  6. Nancy Sarris Avatar
    Nancy Sarris

    I have asked both my GP and Urolologistfor a 4 hr. urine test. Both said, “no”.
    Don’t understand why. Have a 5m at junction of bladder (traveled down the ureter pretty quickly.) Have had 2 CT scans, 2 ultrasounds, 2 xrays and 6 urine cultures (not viable.) Have been dealing with this for 4 months. Only symptom is dark urine…no pain!

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Nancy,
      Yes, not everyone has pain believe it or not-
      Push back and tell your doc you want to find out WHY you are forming stones and that is the reason for the test. That is like saying you have high blood pressure and they both refuse to put on the cuff and check it.
      Ridiculous.
      j

      Reply
  7. Debbie Avatar
    Debbie

    I read somewhere that if you eat a high oxidate food with a food high in calcium it helps to counteract. Example- blueberries eat with enriched calcium milk Orin yogurt. Can eat spinach with cheese. Is this accurate?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Debbie,
      Take spinach away please it is just too high. There is not enough calcium to bind with all the oxalate (nearly 700/cup) Watch this so you can understand how it is done.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMFYYEs_ggQ&t=247s
      j

      Reply
  8. Kristen Hoyt Avatar
    Kristen Hoyt

    I’m trying to get to you quickly. Hydroxyapatite crystals are very high. Urine pH is high, oxalate crystals are high. Iron is very low (5 with range of 23-336). How do I lower pH and increase iron, prevent crystals. I have nephrocalcinosis. Please help!

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Kristen,
      It is complicated and would require a consult with me which you can book here if you like:https://kidneystonediet.com/24-hour-urine-analysis/
      j

      Reply
  9. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Hi from Canada!

    Long time stone maker (calcium oxalate kidney stones, gallstones and saliva duct stones! I’m really good at it!) and I just started listening to your podcast.

    I just listened to the urine analysis episode. It’s been almost four years since I saw my urologist, and I am waiting for an appointment that will be set up in the fall, but I could get in with my GP sooner and have an appointment with a dietician in a few weeks. The podcast episode mentioned a free resource on this site that might help me talk to my GP about getting urine analysis, but I can’t seem to find it. Am I missing it?

    Liking the free resources I’m finding, though! Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Laura,
      Here is the article found on my blog:https://kidneystonediet.com/13-things-to-do-at-your-first-urology-appointment/
      j

      Reply
  10. shubhi Avatar
    shubhi

    which 24 hour urinalysis test needs to be taken, calcium or uric acid or ?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Shubhi,
      There is a whole panel that should be done:
      j

      Reply
  11. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    So 2/23 I ended up in the hospital almost at sepsis level I had a 7mm stone that was stuck got surgery. In may I had more pain dr said imaging. Said I had 2 small stones I should be able to pass. This January I got a call saying those 2 same stones are still in there and that my urethra is closed shut due to scar tissue and the left kidney is obstructed needed surgery had at on 2/5/24 I had a stent in that came out on the 28th and I was already making more stones. I ended up back in the hospital last Sunday that my kidney was swollen again. The uroglist I see I went back for a follow up
    I said him any further testing should be done or lab work or to see a nephrologist since I’ve been having blood in my urine since September he said no need just follow up on 6 months call any issues, is that normal ? I feel more test should be done I’m in pain and pain killers are not the answer. I would like to know if any medications will help or what else can be done

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Jennifer.
      This always gets me so upset. Tell your doc that you want to do everything you can to prevent new stones and you want the urine collection ordered.
      j

      Reply
  12. Izabela Avatar
    Izabela

    Dear Jill, how much time I need to wait for 24hrs urine test taken after stone surgery to be reliable?

    Reply
    1. Jill Harris, LPN, CHC Avatar
      Jill Harris, LPN, CHC

      Hi Izabela,
      It depends on how your recovery is going. If you are eating and drinking normally you can do it. I would wait 3-4 weeks.
      j

      Reply

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