Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.  Please submit in sterile cup, refrigerated.

Unless specimen is being collected to monitor effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, it must be collected prior to administration of antibiotics. Most antibiotics concentrate in urine.

Random, Clean Catch, or Cath specimens acceptable.  Midstream Clean Catch recommended.

Catheterized

Indwelling

1. Disinfect catheter collection port with 70% alcohol.
2. Use a needle and syringe to aseptically collect 5 mL to 10 mL of urine.
3. Pour urine into a screw-capped, sterile container. Mix well. 

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Straight

1. Thoroughly cleanse urethral area with soap and water.

2. Rinse area with wet gauze pads.

3. Aseptically insert a catheter into bladder.

4. After allowing 0.15 mL of urine to pass, collect urine to be submitted in a screw-capped, sterile container.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.
Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Clean-Catch, Midstream Specimen
1. Collect a clean-catch, midstream urine specimen as follows:

Males
A. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes® by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Holding back foreskin with 1 hand, if necessary, use first Towelette® to wash end of penis. Discard first Towelette® in wastebasket.
C. Continue holding back foreskin; and gently rinse end of penis using second and third Towelette®, discarding them in wastebasket when done.
D. Continue holding back foreskin, and begin to urinate into toilet.

Females
A. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes® by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Pull panties below the knees so they will not interfere with urine collection. With 2 fingers of 1 hand, hold outer folds of vagina apart. With other hand, gently wash vaginal area from front to back, using first Towelette®. After this step, throw away first Towelette® in wastebasket.
C. Still holding outer vaginal skin away from opening through which urination takes place, rinse area from front to back using Towelette® #2, discard, and then repeat with Towelette® #3.
D. Continue holding outer vaginal folds apart and begin to urinate into toilet. Lean slightly forward so that urine flows directly down without running along skin.
2. After first few teaspoons, place screw-capped, sterile container under stream of urine; and collect rest of urine in container. Even 1/4 cup is an adequate specimen for test.
3. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely; and wash any spilled urine from outside of container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Acceptability is 1 specimen per day.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.