Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
About Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | 24-hr urinary sodium, Urine sodium excretion test, 24-hour Na urine, Timed urine sodium |
| Sample Type | 24-hour urine collection |
| Fasting Required | No fasting required |
| Report Time | 1 Day |
| Recommended For | Adults and children of all genders; commonly ordered for those with kidney issues, electrolyte imbalances, or high blood pressure |
| Price | Starting at ₹500 |
What is a Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test?
The Sodium, 24-hour urine test measures the total amount of sodium your kidneys excrete in urine over a full day. It is also known as the 24-hr urinary sodium or Urine Sodium Excretion Test. Doctors order it to understand how the kidneys are managing sodium and to investigate conditions such as abnormal blood sodium levels, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. The test uses a urine sample collected over 24 hours, not a blood draw.
What Does a Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test Measure?
This test analyses two closely related things: the concentration of sodium in your urine and the total amount your body excretes over an entire day. Together, these figures tell your doctor how well your kidneys are handling sodium.
Here is what each measurement shows:
- Sodium (Na+): The main positively charged mineral found in the fluid outside your body's cells. It controls water distribution in the body and helps maintain normal fluid pressure and balance.
- 24-hour sodium excretion: The total sodium passed in urine over a full day. This figure reflects both your kidney function and your dietary salt intake more reliably than a single urine sample can.
Why is a Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test Done?
Your doctor may request this sodium test when they need to understand why your sodium levels are abnormal or how well your kidneys are regulating salt.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
The following symptoms may prompt a doctor to order a 24-hour urine test for sodium:
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Persistent fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling (oedema) in the legs or around the eyes
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness or low blood pressure
- Excessive thirst
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
This test can assist in identifying a range of conditions, including:
- Kidney disease (the test checks whether the kidneys are removing sodium correctly)
- Hyponatraemia, which is low sodium in the blood
- Addison's disease (adrenal gland underactivity)
- SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone), a hormonal condition causing the body to retain too much water
- Kidney stone formation, where high urinary sodium is a common contributing factor
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- High blood pressure and investigation of why blood pressure medications may not be working
Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring
In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), dietary salt intake directly affects blood pressure and the speed at which kidney function declines. The Sodium, 24-hour urine test helps doctors check whether a patient is following a low-sodium diet as advised. It may be repeated periodically to monitor sodium compliance and track kidney health over time.
How to Prepare and What to Expect
Collecting your sample correctly is the most important part of this test. Following the steps below will ensure accurate results.
Do You Need to Fast?
No fasting is required for this test. You should continue eating and drinking as you normally would throughout the 24-hour collection period. Maintain your usual diet unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as any sudden changes in salt intake can affect your results.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
Keep these points in mind before and during your collection:
- Bring a detailed clinical history, including your symptoms, previous test results, and family history, as this is required for the test.
- Tell your doctor about all medicines you are currently taking. Certain medications can affect your results. Do NOT stop any medicine without consulting your doctor first.
- Avoid unusually salty meals during the collection period; stick to your normal diet.
- Keep the collection container refrigerated or on ice throughout the 24 hours, as instructed.
- Drink your usual amount of fluids; do not deliberately increase or reduce your intake.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Here is how the 24-hour urine collection works from start to finish:
- On the morning of the collection, discard your very first urine of the day and note the exact time. This is your start time.
- From that point, collect every urine sample you pass over the next 24 hours in the sterile container provided.
- Keep the container refrigerated or on ice throughout the collection period.
- Note the start and end times on the request form as instructed.
- Complete the collection at the same time the following morning (including that first morning sample).
- Deliver a 5 ml aliquot of the total collected volume to the Lupin Diagnostics centre or hand it to the home collection team. The sample will be refrigerated and sent to the laboratory for analysis by spectrophotometry.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
The following factors can influence your sodium test results:
- Medications such as diuretics (water pills), ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and laxatives, which alter how the kidneys handle sodium
- Dehydration, which concentrates urine and may give a falsely high reading
- Overhydration, which dilutes urine and may reduce the reading
- An incomplete collection, where missing even one or two samples can skew the total
- Dietary sodium intake in the 24 hours before or during collection
Understanding Your Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test Results
Results from a Sodium, 24-hour urine test need to be read alongside your blood tests, symptoms, and medical history. Below are the general reference ranges.
| Parameter | Normal Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Urine Sodium (Adult) | 40 to 220 | mEq/24-Hour |
| Urine Sodium (Child) | 41 to 115 | mEq/24-Hour |
These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.
Results During Special Conditions
Certain health conditions can significantly shift your urine sodium reading:
- Addison's disease: Because the adrenal glands produce less of the hormone that tells the kidneys to retain sodium, more sodium is lost in the urine, leading to higher readings.
- SIADH: In this condition, the body holds too much water and urine sodium is usually above 20 mmol/L, even when blood sodium is low.
- Diuretic medications: These directly increase sodium excretion and can raise urine sodium levels well above the normal range, independent of kidney disease or diet.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
These general wellness tips can support healthy sodium balance:
- Aim for moderate salt intake, broadly around less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, as a general dietary guideline.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day, particularly during warm weather or after exercise.
- If you are on medications that affect blood pressure or fluid balance, discuss sodium monitoring with your doctor at regular check-ups.
Lupin Diagnostics Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test Price and Home Collection
The Sodium, 24-hour urine test is available at Lupin Diagnostics starting at ₹500, with home sample collection available across cities in India.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 250 |
| CHENNAI | 250 |
| HYDERABAD | 250 |
| KOLKATA | 260 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 250 |
| PUNE | 250 |
Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.
Home Collection
Lupin Diagnostics offers sodium test home collection across cities in India, making it easy to complete your 24-hour urine collection at home. All samples are processed in NABL-accredited laboratories by trained technologists. Your digital report is delivered securely via email or WhatsApp once ready.
How to Book
- Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
- Choose your city and preferred time slot.
- Opt for home sample collection by a certified phlebotomist, or visit your nearest Lupin Diagnostics centre.
- Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.
Frequently Asked Questions
A spot (random) test measures sodium in a single urine sample taken at one point in the day. The Sodium, 24-hour urine test measures total sodium excreted over a full day, giving a more accurate picture of how the kidneys are managing sodium. Because sodium excretion varies significantly across the day, a single sample can be misleading.
No, fasting is not required. You should continue your usual eating and drinking habits throughout the collection period. Sudden changes to your diet, particularly salt intake, are best avoided as they can affect your results.
Keep the collection container refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C throughout the 24 hours. If a fridge is not accessible, keep it on ice. After completing the collection, submit the sample to the laboratory as promptly as possible.
Diuretics (water pills), ACE inhibitors, ARBs (blood pressure medicines), mineralocorticoid antagonists, and laxatives can all alter how the kidneys handle sodium. Always tell your doctor about every medicine you are taking before the test, and do not stop any medication without medical advice.
Yes. High sodium in the urine is one of the most common urinary chemical abnormalities linked to kidney stone formation. If you have a history of kidney stones, your doctor may use this test to assess your risk and guide dietary changes.
Your report is typically ready within 1 day of the laboratory receiving your sample. Lupin Diagnostics delivers reports digitally via email or WhatsApp, so you will not need to visit a centre to collect your results.
Sodium excretion naturally rises and falls throughout the day and is affected by meals, activity, and hydration. Collecting urine over a full 24-hour period captures all these variations and gives a reliable total figure. A single sample taken at one moment may not reflect your typical daily sodium handling accurately.
Sodium, 24-Hour Urine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
