Collection Instructions

Clean Catch Mid-Stream Urine

Obtain early-morning specimens whenever possible to minimize false-negative results.

Female:

1. Wash hands.
2. Sit comfortably on the toilet and swing one knee to the side as far as possible.
3. Spread labia with one hand.
4. Use supplied sterile towlettes to wipe the vaginal area from the front to the back.
5. Keep labia apart.
6. Hold the cup with fingers on the outside.  Do not touch the rim.
7. Pass a small amount of urine into the toilet.  Stop.
8. Pass enough urine into the cup to fill half full.
9. Place lid on cup and secure tightly.

Male:

1. Wash hands.
2. Cleanse the end of the penis with a sterile towlette beginning from the urethra opening and working away from it.
3. Hold cup with fingers on the outside.  Do not touch the rim.
4. Void a small amount of urine in the toilet.  Stop.
5. Pass enough urine in the cup to fill half full.
6. Place lid on cup and secure tightly. 

Straight Catheter:

• Although slightly more invasive, urinary catheterization may allow collection of bladder urine with less urethral contamination.  There is a risk that urethral organisms will be introduced into the bladder with the catheter.  This procedure is performed by a physician or another licensed professional.

Foley Catheter:

1. Routine culture of urine from patients with chronic indwelling catheters may be of no value except for epidemiologic purposes.  Large numbers of pathogens are common in these patients. 
2. The specimen of choice is urine collected from an indwelling catheter tube through the sampling port.  Clean the port with alcohol swab.  Collect in a sterile container.
3. DO NOT disconnect the catheter from the bag to collect the specimen.  Note: urine obtained from catheter bags at the bedside are not acceptable for culture.

Ileal Conduit:

• Urinary flow is diverted by transplanting the ureter into a prepared and isolated segment of the ileum, which is sutured closed on one end.  The other end is connected to an opening in the abdominal wall.  Urine is collected there in a special receptacle.
• Specimen is transferred to a sterile container.

Suprapubic Bladder Aspirate:

• Urine is drawn directly into a syringe through a percutaneously inserted needle, thereby ensuring a contamination-free specimen.  The bladder must be full before performing the procedure.  This technique is indicated in certain clinical situations.
• Specimen is transferred to a sterile container.