Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: Sterile screw-capped container
Minimum Volume: 1.0 mL 
Collection Instructions:

Catheterized:
1. Avoid sending urine that has remained stagnant in catheter tubing for any length of time. Do not send catheter bag urine. 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 urine into a sterile urine container. Mix well.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required.

Clean-Catch, Midstream:
1. Collect a clean-catch, midstream urine specimen as follows:

Males
A. Prepare Towelette® by opening packages (do not remove Towelette® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Holding back foreskin with 1 hand, if necessary, use first Towelette® to wash end of penis. Discard first 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 Towelette® by opening packages (do not remove Towelette® until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes® and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
B. Pull panties below knees so they will not interfere with urine collection. 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®. After this step, throw away first 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 then 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 container under stream of urine. Collect rest of urine in container. Even 1/4 cup is an adequate specimen for test.
3. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely and wash any spilled urine from the outside of container.
4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth or medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required.