Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required.

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

Preferred specimen is from a first-morning void. When antibiotics are to be started immediately, a first-morning specimen is still preferred.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
 

Specimen Type: Urine, catheter

Container/Tube: Sterile syringe

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with a sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe. Do not collect urine from drainage bag.
2. Transfer 10 mL of urine into a boric acid urine preservative tube within 1 hour of collection. Mix well. If boric acid preservative tube is not available, refrigerate specimen immediately after collection.
3. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source of specimen.

Specimen Type: Urine, clean-catch

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Clean-catch urine for culture should be collected in a sterile container.
2. Unscrew cap of urine container. Place cap on counter, top down. Do not contaminate interior of cap or container.
3. Cleanse patient yourself or instruct patient to collect a clean-catch, mid-stream specimen as follows:

Males
A. Wipe head of penis in a single motion with first Towelette.
B. Repeat with second Towelette.
C. If not circumcised, hold foreskin back before cleansing.
D. Urinate a small amount into toilet or bedpan and proceed to step #4.

Females
A. Separate labia.
B. Wipe inner folds front to back in a single motion with first Towelette.
C. Wipe down through center of labial folds with second Towelette.
D. Keep labia separated, urinate a small amount into toilet or bedpan, and proceed to step #4.

4. Place container under stream and continue to urinate into container to collect specimen.
5. Finish voiding into toilet or bedpan.
6. Place cap on container and tighten securely. Give specimen to nurse.
7. Transfer 10 mL of urine into a boric acid urine preservative tube within 1 hour of collection. Mix well. If boric acid preservative tube is not available, refrigerate specimen immediately after collection. Specimen collected in a urine transport container with preservative may be sent at ambient temperature.

8. Label tube/container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and source of specimen.