Hi-tech urinals offer health checks in China’s public restrooms

Futuristic urinals that conduct on-the-spot health checks through urine analysis have appeared in public restrooms in major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai this year. For under $3, users can get a rapid analysis of various health markers, including Vitamin C, creatinine, white blood cells and glucose.

How it works: The process is simple: users pay a fee via WeChat, use the urinal as usual and receive their results on their phone before they even leave the restroom. Health-testing urinals found in locations like a Beijing shopping mall carry a disclaimer emphasizing their role as a health management tool rather than a diagnostic device: “This product is not a medical device, and the results cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis. It is only used as a reference for health management data.”
Not a doctor replacement: Shanghai documentary director Christian Petersen-Clausen shared his positive experience with these health-checking urinals, noting how quickly and easily he received results indicating a calcium deficiency. Petersen-Clausen even took a second test a few days later, showing an improvement in his calcium levels. He emphasized that while they shouldn’t replace doctor visits, they could prompt individuals to seek medical advice if needed.

Share this Article