Mouse urine collection using clear plastic wrap

Qualitative urinalysis using Multistix reagent strips for the detection of urinary pH, protein, glucose, bilirubin, blood, ketone, urobilinogen and creatinine can be carried out with a few drops of mouse urine. The use of metabolic cages is not practical for such qualitative studies particularly when several animals are involved. Here we describe two different methods for collecting pure mouse urine. The single animal method (SAM) involves allowing a single mouse to urinate on Glad cling wrap outside of the animal cage. The multiple animal method (MAM) involves partitioning seven mice into seven different make-shift compartments laid out on top of the cling wrap and allowing them to urinate. The voided urine, in each case, is then aspirated into micro-centrifuge tubes using a Pipetman. Without coercion pure urine was obtained as early as 12 s. Volumes in the range of 10-250 microl were obtained. Modifications of the SAM could prove useful for rat or mouse urine collection under conditions of microgravity.