Urine Samples Required

Urine Sample Required for Annual Review (from 1st October)

From 1st October, all patients attending their long-term condition annual review (except those with thyroid-only conditions) must bring a urine sample. Ideally, this should be the first urine of the day, collected in a specimen pot from reception before your appointment.

The sample will be tested for albumin, an early marker of kidney damage and heart disease risk.

This applies especially to patients with:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Chronic or past acute kidney disease
• Cardiovascular, peripheral vascular or stroke disease
• Gout
• Family history of significant kidney disease
• Autoimmune or multisystem diseases affecting the kidneys (e.g., lupus)

Note: Some factors (e.g. exercise, stress, infection) can falsely raise results, so a repeat test may be needed.

If results are elevated, treatment may be offered to lower your risk of kidney and heart disease.