Lab Test

Specimen Collection Manual: Urethral Swabs

Instructions

Materials/Supplies

  • ESwab Collection System.
  • UTM or UVT transport medium.

Specimen Collection Criteria

  • The patient should not have urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.
  • Position the patient so that the urethra is readily accessible.
  • Cleanse the urethral meatus as for collection of clean catch urine.
  • Insert a mini-tip, flocked swab 2 to 4 cm into the urethra.
  • Carefully rotate the swab three times and remove the swab from the urethra.

Rejection Criteria

  • Urethral discharges are not acceptable specimens.
  • Do not use expired media. Check expiration date on all media prior to use.  

Contacts

Last Updated

7/21/2021

Microtainer® and Vacutainer® are registered trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
UroVysion® is a registered trademark of Abbott Laboratories. ThinPrep® is a registered trademark of Hologic, Incorporated.