30/07/2026
WHY DO SOME URINE TESTS REQUIRE YOUR FIRST MORNING URINE?
Have you ever been told,
"Bring your first urine of the morning."
Why not the urine you pass at noon or in the evening?
Is there something special about the first urine?
Yes—sometimes there is.
While you sleep, you usually don't eat, drink, or urinate for several hours.
During that time, your kidneys continue filtering your blood and producing urine.
Since very little water is being added to the bladder overnight, the urine becomes more concentrated.
Think of it like making orange juice.
If you add a lot of water, the juice becomes diluted.
If you add less water, the flavour becomes stronger.
Your first morning urine is similar.
It contains less water and a higher concentration of many substances, making some abnormalities easier to detect.
That's why healthcare professionals may request a first morning urine sample for certain tests, such as:
👉 Pregnancy testing (hCG)
👉 Protein testing
👉 Microalbumin testing
👉 Some microscopic examinations
👉 Other tests where a concentrated sample can improve detection.
But here's something many people don't know...
Not every urine test requires first morning urine.
For many routine urinalysis tests, a properly collected clean-catch midstream urine sample at any time of the day may be perfectly acceptable.
The most important thing is to follow the instructions for the specific test your healthcare provider has requested.
So the next time you're told to bring your first morning urine, you'll know it isn't just about the time of day...
It's about giving the laboratory the best sample for the test being performed.
Have you ever been asked to bring your first morning urine sample? Did you know why?
