Your doctor has asked you to collect urine for 24 hours in a special container for pathology testing.

What do I need to do?

Please bring your request form to an ACT Pathology collection centre so staff can give you the correct container for the test your doctor has ordered.

The Container

The container has important instructions on the label, please follow them carefully.

• the container you have been given contains hydrochloric acid. Please do not empty this as it is used to preserve the urine.
• you must read the safety information on the container label before opening the container.
• if the acid touches your skin or clothing, wash it immediately with lots of water and consult your doctor. If you are still worried, please visit a walk-in-centre or emergency department for advice.

The collection

Please follow these instructions carefully:

• write your full name (first and last names), date of birth, address, suburb, and postcode on the label of the container.
• the morning after you get your container, go to the toilet and empty your bladder. Do not collect this urine into the container.
• write the time and date (e.g., 7:00am 19/06/2023) on the container label. This is the beginning of the 24-hour collection period.
• for the next 24 hours, collect ALL the urine you pass into the container. This includes the urine you pass the next morning. The last collection must be as near to the same time that you wrote on the container label the day before as possible.
• each time you add urine to the bottle, take care not to spill any. Gently mix the urine after adding each collection to the container by carefully swirling the bottle. Only do this after the lid has been tightly screwed on.
• write the time and date of the last collection on the label.
• bring the container and request form to any ACT pathology collection centre listed on this form as soon as possible.

Collection centres

For further information, please contact one of the following ACT Pathology collection centres:

Canberra Hospital Building 10 Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm and Saturdays from 8.30am to 12:15pm. Closed on Sunday and public holidays.
Canberra Hospital, Gilmore Cres, Garran (next to Centenary Hospital for Women and Children
Phone (02) 5124 2816.

Tuggeranong Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8:30am to 12pm. Closed on Sunday, long weekends and public holidays.
Tuggeranong Health Centre Level 1, Corner Anketell & Pitman Streets, Tuggeranong
Phone (02) 5124 1352.

North Canberra Hospital Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 4pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm. Closed on Sunday and public holidays.
North Canberra Hospital, 1st Floor, Marian Building, Bruce (Maternity entrance)
Phone: (02) 5124 3815.

Gungahlin Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 4.30pm and Saturdays from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Closed Sunday, long weekends and public holidays.
Gungahlin Health Centre, Corner Earnest Cavanagh St & Fussell Lane, Gungahlin
Phone (02) 5124 1135.

Belconnen Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Closed on weekends and public holidays.
Belconnen Health Centre, Corner Lathlain & Cohen St, Belconnen
Phone (02) 5124 1502.

University of Canberra Hospital Collection Centre

Open Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 3.15pm. Closed on Sunday, long weekends and public holidays.
University of Canberra, 20 Guraguma Street, Bruce
Phone (02) 5124 0230.

Weston Creek Collection Centre

Open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:15pm. Closed on Sunday, long weekends and public holidays.
Weston Creek Walk-in Centre, 24 Parkinson St, Weston
Phone (02) 5124 4174.