# How much pee to pee when a doctor says "pee in this cup"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062 "2010-05-19T22:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/21 "2010-05-20T12:27:54Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I think if they are looking for blood they like to centrifuge it so blood collects at the bottom of a vial. If the centrifuge looks like one I used to use, they want a good fraction of the cup, as they are concentrating red blood cells from a large volume. > > Don’t know if I picture it accurately, tho. Not too accurate, sorry. 🙂 The tubes usually used for the ‘spinning’ are only capable of holding around 30-40cc (iirc - it is not much), about same size as the larger-sized tubes used in blood-draws (give or take a tad). Typically, the tube is filled 1/2 - 3/4 full with exact amount not critical at all (ime), spun a few minutes (~5 minutes works fine usually). Then the tube is poured out and the tiny bit remaining that would have the ‘solids’ is placed upon a slide (usually with a ‘dropper thingy’, forget actual name, gives ability to easily use just a drop of the supernatant) and viewed/eval’d for contents such as bacteria, blood or epi cells, etc. Essentially, its better to have too much than not enough, but a few ‘spoonfuls’ is usually enough to get usable results from all but the most anal of Lab Techs. The dipstick shows blood or components also, fwiw. The pad on stick changes from yellow to shades of green (from ‘trace’ to 3+ or similar ratings). Some physicians do not want a micro done if the stick shows ‘normal’ while some want every test ever devised performed, it seems :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/22 "2010-05-20T13:12:32Z")
It’s not a question of “anal” lab techs - we need a minimum volume for a microscopic exam because if we’re saying we see 10-20 red cells per microscopic field, it means something very different if we started with 10mL or 2mL. We put a “low volume” comment on our results if we had less than 6mL to work with. The urine is transferred to a tube soon after you pee in the cup. It holds 10mL, and we like it to be full in case we need to do extra tests in it. Long story short, pee 10mL for us and we’ll be very happy. We’ll work with less but your results may not be accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/23 "2010-05-20T13:23:07Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you should also clearly label it something like > > ‘pee – not major brewery beer’ It’s been a few years since I had to collect 24 hours’ worth of urine, but IIRC, they gave me a translucent plastic jug, somewhat similarly to a gallon milk jug, which had warnings on it and said something like “Biological Material-Do Not Consume”. I helpfully pointed this out to my husband, who ASSURED me that he’d do his best not to consume it. He doesn’t really care for beer or apple juice anyway. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Do doctors in the US actually have people peeing in cups, not in [sterile plastic containers with lids that go straight to the lab?](https://www.pulmolab.com/images/URs-400.jpg) Freakshow. > > Former lab tech here too - the standard urine specimen container mostly filled with urine is ideal so you can do a dip in it, but as long as you have enough urine to get a drop on each part of the dipstick it’s usually enough. Other tests added on (like microbiology tests) may require a bit more. I’ve always been given that cup, or something so similar as to make no difference, to put my single sample urine specimens in. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/24 "2010-05-20T13:26:26Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > .. Long story short, pee 10mL for us and we’ll be very happy. … So two spoonfuls to be precise (assuming teaspoons, less than one tablespoon). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/25 "2010-05-20T13:32:26Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Do doctors in the US actually have people peeing in cups, not in [sterile plastic containers with lids that go straight to the lab?](https://www.pulmolab.com/images/URs-400.jpg) Freakshow. > . This is exactly what I’ve used every time I’ve gone to the doctor, and it’s what your average American means when they say “cup” (when referring to the pee kind, obviously). So no, they don’t just hand you a mug and expect you to pee in it. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/26 "2010-05-20T13:43:10Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Here in the UK I usually get given one of [these](http://www.ukge.co.uk/uk/product.asp?numRecordPosition=3&P_ID=4590&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=386). They only hold 30ml, and are rather narrow (maybe an inch or so across the neck), which means you either have to have superhuman bladder control and aiming technique, or **you just have to “dip in” midstream.** ☹ > > On the plus side, you don’t end up providing them with pints of excess fluid - and “ **the screw closure assures an almost leak-proof closing system** ”. Almost. Next time tell me before I put the tube in my trouser pocket. Bolding mine. IANALT (Lab Tech), but aren’t you SUPPOSED to catch mid-stream so that any bacteria hanging out around the outside end of your urethra are flushed out before you catch your sample? [Cite](http://www.fpnotebook.com/Urology/Lab/ClnCtchUrnClctn.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/27 "2010-05-20T13:51:42Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > It’s not a question of “anal” lab techs - > /snipped/ > Long story short, pee 10mL for us and we’ll be very happy. We’ll work with less but your results may not be accurate. The ‘anal’ comment is about a very small % of Techs I have experienced that threw anything less than than their concept of ‘perfect’ into the trash (literally), or ‘contract labs’ that reject stuff that is not _exactly_ as they insist, but within reasonable limits. Not the usual routine, by any means, and certainly not a blanket statement 🙂 By far, most of us Techs can/will work around less than perfect samples. Comment fields are very, very familiar to me, but some Techs had no idea what to do with 'em. ---
**Author:** ![figure9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@figure9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/figure9)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/28 "2010-05-20T14:13:52Z")
This has little to do with the OP but I’ll post it anyway. My dad told a story about the doctors office. He heard the nurse yell “Oh no!” then the doctor came in laughing. The nurse had set a cup on the sink in the bathroom and instructed a five year old boy to pee into it. He gave it a good try! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/29 "2010-05-20T14:19:57Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you should also clearly label it something like > > ‘pee – not major brewery beer’ Ice cold, if you labeled it “Coors” or “Bud,” most people probably wouldn’t even notice. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/30 "2010-05-20T14:24:46Z")
> [@horsetech](#): > > Bolding mine. IANALT (Lab Tech), but aren’t you SUPPOSED to catch mid-stream so that any bacteria hanging out around the outside end of your urethra are flushed out before you catch your sample? [Cite](http://www.fpnotebook.com/Urology/Lab/ClnCtchUrnClctn.htm) So they told me as well - pee a bit first, then fill the cup, then finish in the toilet. I generally handle it the way I handled the semen sample I had to provide after my vasectomy - hand it over with a wink and say, “Plenty more where that came from!” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/31 "2010-05-20T14:24:51Z")
I always have to ask for a second cup. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/32 "2010-05-20T14:29:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So they told me as well - pee a bit first, then fill the cup, then finish in the toilet. > > I generally handle it the way I handled the semen sample I had to provide after my vasectomy - hand it over with a wink and say, “Plenty more where that came from!” > > Regards, > Shodan Any time I’ve had to provide a semen sample (my wife and I have gone through several rounds of IUI), the handoff has been like a super secret drop in a spy movie. After I have the sample in the cup, I open a little metal door in the wall to a small alcove. After I close the door, a little light goes on in the next room to alert the technician that the sperm is in the safe and then they open the alcove from a door on their side. Meanwhile I have been provided with directions to exit the doctor’s office from the back hallway, so as not to be seen leaving by the staff or the patients in the waiting room. It’s very cloak-and-dagger. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/33 "2010-05-20T14:31:45Z")
> [@ed malin](#): > > due to recent kidney problems, the doctor instructed me to collect urine for 24 hours. i had bottles all over the place until i realized he only wanted mine. LOL! We usually need only 10-20 cc, or enough to dip a dipstick. If your doc needed more, they would tell you how much. A 24 hour urine collection starts with the time you empty your bladder (say, 3 pm). Now you begin the collection. Then you collect all urine for the next 24 hours and empty your bladder for the final collection at the same time as when you started (3 pm the following day). ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/34 "2010-05-20T14:37:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Do doctors in the US actually have people peeing in cups, not in [sterile plastic containers with lids that go straight to the lab?](https://www.pulmolab.com/images/URs-400.jpg) Freakshow. > > Former lab tech here too - the standard urine specimen container mostly filled with urine is ideal so you can do a dip in it, but as long as you have enough urine to get a drop on each part of the dipstick it’s usually enough. Other tests added on (like microbiology tests) may require a bit more. No need to waste a relatively expensive sterile cup when you are just doing and in-office dipstick. For example, pregnant women get checked for protein, glucose and ketones on every visit. The nurse or tech can dipstick that while the woman waits to be seen by the Doc. This test does not need to go to the lab for processing and they aren’t checking for bacteria, so a sterile sample is not needed. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/35 "2010-05-20T15:36:20Z")
The first ever I had to provided a urine sample was late '70s. I was given not a cup, but a bottle. I recall it being somewhat smaller than a 1L milk bottle - but of course my memory now of the bottle in my young hands is certainly not trustworthy. Being young an naive I thought volume was important to the doctor, so I let’er rip, overflowed, and embarassedly dealt with the mess. I returned the bottle to the nurse. Later, on my way out the door, I saw a 6 or 7 of these bottles lined up in front of a lab tech. It was easy to spot mine - the only one filled to the top while the others had 1" or so. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/36 "2010-05-20T15:39:45Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I always have to ask for a second cup. Reminds me of that old coffee commercial: “Howard never asks for a second cup at home. Doesn’t he like my pee?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/37 "2010-05-20T16:25:49Z")
Okay, so when you say “cup,” you mean “proper urine specimen container.” Got it. 🙂 ETA: I didn’t think US Americans were peeing in mugs (but I do appreciate the visual) - I thought maybe it was like the little plastic cups that they give you a pill in. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/38 "2010-05-20T16:34:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Okay, so when you say “cup,” you mean “proper urine specimen container.” Got it. 🙂 > > ETA: I didn’t think US Americans were peeing in mugs (but I do appreciate the visual) - I thought maybe it was like the little plastic cups that they give you a pill in. I figured, but it was what I thought of first 😃 Of course, now I’m going to be visualizing nurses handing me mugs whenever I have to give urine samples (currently, quite frequently since I’m 7 months pregnant), and giggling. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/39 "2010-05-20T16:35:59Z")
How much pee should my pee-pee pee, when my MD says please pee? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062/40 "2010-05-20T17:38:38Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > You were doing it wrong, then. You’re supposed to refrigerate the pee once you collect it, when doing a collection over a period of time. > > Having jugs of pee in the fridge grosses my husband RIGHT out, by the way. He’s a hunter, and he does field dress his kills…but having pee in the fridge pushes his squickometer over the limit. > > So, kids, learn from this…only collect your own pee, and put it in the fridge while collecting. The boyfriend was once asked to provide a stool sample the day our fridge died. He put it in my _wine fridge_. I told him that for some reason his poop among my food was gross but deal-with-able, but his poop with my wine was just too gross to contemplate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-pee-to-pee-when-a-doctor-says-pee-in-this-cup/540062.md?page=3)