| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | A test to quantitate the amount of urine produced in a day. |
| Alternative Names | Urine volume; 24 hour urine collection |
| How the test is performed | A 24-hour urine sample is needed. The health care provider will instruct you, if necessary, to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test. On day 1, urinate into the toilet upon arising in the morning. Collect all subsequent urine (in a special container) for the next 24-hours. On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning upon arising. Cap the container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period. Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed. Infant: Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end), and place it on your infant. For males, the entire penis can be placed in the bag and the adhesive attached to the skin. For females, the bag is placed over the labia. Place a diaper over the infant (bag and all). The infant should be checked frequently and the bag changed after the infant has urinated into the bag. For active infants, this procedure may take a couple of attempts--lively infants can displace the bag, causing an inability to obtain the specimen. The urine is drained into the container for transport to the laboratory. Deliver it to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible upon completion. The laboratory will measure the volume of urine in the specimen. |
| How to prepare for the test | No special preparation is necessary for this test, but if the collection is being taken from an infant, a couple of extra collection bags may be necessary. Drink a normal volume of fluids, and consume a normal diet. |
| How the test will feel | The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort. |
| Why the test is performed | Urine volume is normally measured as a part of the creatinine clearance test or any test that measures the amount of a substance eliminated in a day (for example, protein, aldosterone , sodium, potassium, urea nitrogen). It is also measured in patients with polyuria (abnormally large volumes of urine), such as, diabetes insipidus . See also:sodium, urinepotassium; urineurea nitrogen; urine |
| Normal Values | 800 to 2000 ml/day (with a normal fluid intake of about 2 L/day) Note: ml/day = milliliter per day; L/day = liters per day |
| What abnormal results mean | Disorders that cause reduced urine volume include dehydration , inadequate fluid intake, or renal insufficiency / renal failure . Some of the conditions that cause increased urine volume include:diabetes insipidus - renaldiabetes insipidus; centraldiabetes mellitus high fluid intake some forms of kidney failureend-stage renal disease use of diuretic medications |
| What the risks are | There are no risks (except for the chance of inaccurate results if all of the urine is not collected during the 24-hour period). |
| Special considerations | Not applicable. |
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