Specimen Requirements

Specimen source is required.  Submit only 1 of the following specimen types:

Specimen Type: Catheterized

Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions:

Note: Urine should be collected by appropriate care area.  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 days.

1. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge.
2. Puncture with sterile needle and collect urine in a sterile syringe.
3. Transfer urine to a screw-capped sterile container or grey topped transport tube.  If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen (cath).

Specimen Type: Clean-catch, midstream

Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions:

Note: A first-morning collection  is preferred.  Overnight incubation in bladder yields highest bacterial counts. Specimens collected at other times are also acceptable.

Males:  Circumcised patients clean beginning of urethra with provided towelette.  Uncircumcised patients withdraw foreskin and clean beginning of urethra with provided towelette.

Females:  Clean lips of vagina with provided towelette.

1. Before beginning collection, wash hands with soap and water.
2. Urinate a small amount into toilet, then collect a midstream portion of urine into container, void remainder into toilet.
3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Specimen Type: Cystoscopy urine

Specimen Volume: 10 mL
Collection Instructions:  

Note:  Urine should be collected by the appropriate care area.

1. Following insertion of cystoscope, allow first portion of specimen to drain in collection pan and then collect in a screw-capped, sterile container. Sample may be transferred into a grey topped urine transport tube if desired.
2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Specimen Type: Suprapubic aspirate

Specimen Volume: 10-15 mL
Collection Instructions:

Note: 4 to 6 hours should have elapsed since last urination.  Specimens should be collected by a trained professional.  

1. Clean suprapubic skin with iodine followed by alcohol.
2. 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.
3. Aspirating as one penetrates, stop as urine is obtained; fill syringe with 10 mL to 15 mL of urine (infants may require a smaller syringe and needle).
4. Transfer urine to an anaerobic transport vial, a screw-capped, sterile container, or leave in syringe.  If submitting specimen in syringe, remove needle and cap syringe.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Specimen Type: Urostomy

Specimen Volume: 10-15 mL
Collection Instructions:

Note: Specimens should be collected by trained professional.

1. Remove old collection pouch, if any.
2. Prepare site, wash wound margins well with antiseptic soap, rinse with sterile saline.
3. Clean stoma site with warm water and sterile gauze. Very scant bleeding around edges of stoma maybe normal, but bleeding from within stoma may indicate a urinary tract infection or other abnormality.
4. Insert #14 rubber in-and-out catheter into stoma site and advance it about 2 to 2.25 inches. If you meet resistance before reaching 2 inches, rotate catheter gently until it slides forward. If it still meets resistance, do not force it any further.
5. Collect urine in a sterile container.  If urine does not flow into catheter, ask patient to shift position and/or cough to mobilize urine.
6. Remove the catheter and cap the specimen container.  Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
7. Reapply external collection appliance, if any.

Alternate Procedure: If the patient cannot be catheterized, the alternate procedure is to gently cleanse the site with warm water and apply a fresh, new collection appliance. Wait for the urine to collect in the appliance and then use the appliance’s drain to place urine into the sterile specimen cup. If the patient is an outpatient coming to a clinic, you may ask the patient or family to perform the warm water cleansing and application of a fresh, new appliance that morning so there will be urine in the bag when he/she arrives for his appointment.

Specimen Rejection:

1.  Specimen >2 hours old, if not preserved or refrigerated

2.  Specimens contaminated with stool or toilet water.