Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 1 hour of collection.

If there is a delay in transport, refrigerate or place in Urine C&S preservative tube.

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 Specimen

Foley (Indwelling), Suprapubic Catheter

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 10 mL to 25 mL of urine in sterile syringe. Do not take specimen from drainage bag.

3. Place urine into a screw-capped, sterile container. Ensure cap is secure before transport.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated or place a portion of the specimen in a Urine C&S preservative vial.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

Straight

1. Clean urethral opening with cleansing Towelette®.

2. Using sterile technique, pass catheter into bladder.

3. Discard initial flow, and collect 10 mL to 25 mL of mid-flow urine in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

Clean-Catch, Midstream Specimen

1. Collect 10 mL to 25 mL of clean-catch, midstream urine as follows:

Male

A. Wash hands with soap and water, rinse and dry them thoroughly.

B. Open cleansing Towelette(s)® packages provided.

C. Expose penis, retract foreskin, and wash opening from which you pass urine with each of the 3 Towelettes®. Use 1 Towelette® at a time.

D. Open clean specimen container. Do not touch the inside of rim or inside cover. Place cover upside down on shelf area.

E. Urinate a small amount of urine into toilet, then collect a portion of remaining urine into the specimen container.

F. When urination is complete, put cap on specimen container. Cap tightly.

G. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >2 hours, send specimen refrigerated

 Female

A. Wash hands with soap and water, rinse and dry them thoroughly.

B. Open cleansing Towelette® package(s) provided.

C. Sit comfortably on toilet seat and swing one knee to the side as far as possible to prepare to cleanse vaginal area.

D. It is only necessary to wash the area from where you pass urine. Using 1 Towelette® at a time, begin to wash gently wiping only from the front to the back between the folds of your skin, then discard towelette. Do not use the same Towelette® more than once.

E. Repeat this front to back washing process using the other 2 Towelettes® in the same manner.

F. Open specimen container. Do not touch inside of cup or inside cover. Remove cover and place upside down on a shelf.

G. Hold specimen container in such a way that contact with your legs, external genitalia, or clothing is avoided. Do not touch inside of the container or inside of the cover.

H. Urinate a small amount of urine into the toilet, then collect a portion of remaining urine into specimen container.

I. When urination is complete, put cap on specimen container. Cap tightly.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >2 hours, send specimen refrigerated

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

Cystoscopy/Endoscopy,Surgical)

1. Submit specimen collected by nurse or urologist in a screw-capped, sterile container.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

Ileal Loop

1. Remove ostomy appliance and clean stoma.

2. Pass a catheter into stoma and collect urine into a screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Do not collect specimen from ostomy appliance.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

Suprapubic Aspirate

Submit suprapubic aspirate obtained by physician in a screw-capped, sterile container

1. Instruct patient to maintain a high fluid intake and to refrain from voiding for 1 to 2 hours before aspiration.

2. Clean suprapubic skin with 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 symphysis in midline.

4. Aspirating as one penetrates, stop as urine is obtained and fill syringe with 10 mL to 25 mL of urine.

5. Place urine into a screw-capped, sterile container.

6. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

U-Bag

1. Clean genitalia with cleansing Towelette®.

2. Attach U-bag to genitalia. Avoid fecal contamination.

3. Place 10 mL to 25 mL of urine in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and actual time of collection, collector’s initials, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: Collection method used and specimen source are required on request form for processing.

 

Specimen stability:  Specimens should be delivered to the laboratory within 1 hour of collection. If testing will be delayed, store specimens at 2-8C for up to 24 hours. Samples stored in a urine preservative collection system are stable for 48 hours.

Minimum volume:  0.5mL