To collect a first morning urine sample, you catch your first urination of the day in the cup from your kit, transfer it into the provided tube or container, label it, and store it according to your kit's instructions until shipping. The first morning sample is used because it is the most concentrated of the day, which makes certain markers easier to measure accurately.
Important: Register your kit before you collect. Always follow the specific instructions in your kit — urine tests differ in collection technique and storage temperature, and using the wrong method can affect your results.
Before you start
Read your kit's instructions to confirm whether yours requires a first morning sample and how to store it after collection.
Limit fluids the night before only if your kit specifically instructs it. Empty your bladder before bed.
Some kits ask you to pause certain supplements for a few days before collecting. Follow your kit, and never stop a prescribed medication without first talking to your care provider.
Label the collection container with your name, date of birth, and collection date. Use a blue or black ballpoint pen — not a felt-tip or dry-erase pen. Unlabeled samples are rejected.
Note: Collect on a weekday so the sample is not held over a weekend in transit, unless your kit specifically says it is safe to store and ship later.
Collecting the sample
The collection technique depends on your kit type:
Most first morning urine tests (clean-catch midstream): Begin urinating into the toilet, let a small initial stream pass, then move the cup into position and catch the middle portion of the stream. Do not touch the inside of the cup or lid during collection.
Some genital-infection tests: Catch only the first 15–30 mL of the stream — not the midstream — and do not cleanse the genital area beforehand. Your kit will specify if this applies.
After positioning the cup correctly:
Collect your sample upon waking, before eating, drinking, or exercising.
Fill the cup to at least the minimum line shown on it.
If your kit includes a tube or vial, use the pipette provided to transfer urine to the fill line, then cap it tightly.
Confirm your label is complete and the lid is sealed.
Important: A diluted, bloody, or contaminated sample may be rejected. Do not let toilet water touch the inside of the cup. People who menstruate should not collect during their period.
Storing your sample
Storage depends on your kit — follow it exactly. This is a critical step where kits differ significantly:
Some kits require freezing the sample (often for at least 4 hours) before shipping.
Other kits require refrigeration only and must not be frozen.
If your kit's label includes a "frozen" checkbox, mark it if you froze the sample. Do not guess at storage temperature — use only what your kit specifies.
Need more help?
If you are unsure whether to freeze or refrigerate your sample, or which part of the stream to catch, contact our support team through chat with your Kit ID. There is no cost for a replacement collection kit when a new sample collection is needed for the lab to complete your analysis.