Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 1 hour of collection.

Collect first-morning specimen for either clean-catch specimen or catheterized specimen. Only 1 specimen/day will be accepted. Organisms accumulate in bladder overnight, so first-morning void provides the best yield. Specimens collected at other times are dilute and are not optimal.

Catheterized
1. Avoid sending urine that has remained stagnant in catheter tubing for any length of time, do not send catheter bag urine, and avoid sending urine from catheters that have been in place longer than 5 to 9 days.
2. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe.
3. Pour 10 mL of 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. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Clean-Catch, Midstream
1. Collect a clean-catch, midstream urine specimen (10 mL of urine) as follows:
 
Males
A. Prepare obstetrical Towelette® by opening packages (do not remove Towelette® until ready to use), and place on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so they can be reached while urinating.
B. Holding back foreskin with 1 hand, if necessary, use first Towelette® to wash end of penis. Discard 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 Towelette® by opening packages (do not remove Towelette® until ready to use), and place on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so they can be reached while urinating.
B. 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®. Discard 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 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 urine container under stream of urine and collect as much urine as possible (minimum volume:  100 mL). (24-Hour urine specimen is not acceptable.)

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. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Suprapubic Aspirate
1. Be sure at least 4 to 6 hours have elapsed since last urination.

2. Clean suprapubic skin with iodine followed by alcohol.

3. Insert 22-gauge needle attached to a 20-mL syringe into skin at about a 30° angle to abdominal wall, immediately superior to the symphysis in midline.
4. Aspirating as one penetrates, stop as urine is obtained. Fill syringe with 10 mL of urine (infants may require a smaller syringe and needle).

5. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.
6. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
7. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Specimen may be refirgerated for up to 24 hours.