Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: Sterile screw-capped container
Collection Instructions: Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Collect first-morning specimen using urine collection kit as follows:

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 on request form for processing.

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 the 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 as much urine as possible (minimum:  40 mL). (<40 mL of urine is not acceptable, unless larger volume is not obtainable.)
3. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely and wash any spilled urine from 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:  1. 24-hour urine specimen is not acceptable.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Cystoscopic, Kidney, or Nephrostomy Urine
1. Collect as much urine as possible in a screw-capped, sterile container.
2. 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.
3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Suprapubic Aspiration

1. Collect as much urine as possible in a syringe with a Luer-tip cap or other sterile container.
2. 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.
3. Send specimen refrigerated. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.