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Specimen Collection Manual: Urine for Culture

Instructions

Collection Preparation

1. A first morning specimen is optimal.
2. The patient must wash his/her hands.
3. Open the collection system and remove the blue-top sterile collection-transfer container and towelettes, as seen below.
   
   

   NOTE: The blue collection cup used ONLY for collection and transfer of the urine specimen. It should NOT be used to transport the specimen to the Laboratory as it may leak when in transit. SAFETY WARNING: Avoid contact with the recessed needle beneath the yellow sticker on the blue-cap.

4. Prior to genital cleansing, unscrew the cap of the urine specimen container. Place cap on the counter with the attached blue aspiration nozzle facing upward. To avoid contamination, do not touch the inside of the cup, cap, or aspiration nozzle.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Clean Catch Instructions

1. The patient should cleanse themself with the towelettes as follows:
   • Males:
     • Wipe the head of the penis in a single motion with the first towelette. Repeat with the second towelette. (Uncircumcised patients should hold the foreskin back before cleansing.)
     • Urinate a small amount into the toilet. This flushes most contaminants from the urethra.
     • After a single stream is achieved, pass the specimen cup into the stream and obtain urine sample.
   • Females:
     • Sit comfortably on the toilet and swing one knee to the side as far as possible.
     • With the forefingers of one hand, spread the outer folds of the labia and keep them apart during the rest of the collection procedure.
     • With the other hand, wipe the inner labial folds front to back in a single motion with the first towelette.
     • Wipe down through the center of the labial folds with the second towelette.
     • Keep the labia separated and urinate a small amount into the toilet. This flushes most contaminants from the urethra.
     • After a single stream is achieved, pass the specimen cup into the stream and obtain sample.
2. The cup should be at least 1/4 to 1/2 full.
3. To prevent contamination of specimen with skin flora, the patient should remove the cup before the flow of urine stops and before releasing the labia or penis.
4. The patient should then completely empty their bladder of urine into the toilet.
5. Wipe off the outside of the container after replacing the cap.
6. The patient must wash their hands.
7. Label the specimen and immediately proceed to the urine transfer steps listed below.

Invasive Urine Specimen Instructions

1. Specimen types include urine obtained through a straight catheter, cystoscopy, suprapubic bladder, tap, etc.
2. Obtain a minimum of 10 mL of urine.
3. Unscrew the blue cap of the sterile cup and place the cap on the counter with the attached blue aspiration nozzle facing upward. Do not touch the inside of the cup, the cap, or the straw.
4. Place the urine in the cup and securely attach the cap to the cup.
5. Wipe off the outside of the container after replacing the cap.
6. Wash hands.
7. Label the specimen and immediately proceed to the urine transfer steps listed below.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Urine Culture/Urinalysis Transfer Instructions (Greater than 10.0 mL of Urine)

1. Peel back the yellow protective label on the blue-cap to reveal the recessed collection needle.
2. Disinfect the gray stopper of the Culture tube (shown below) with an alcohol swab and allow it to dry. Invert the evacuated tube (contains lyophilized urine maintenance formula) onto the collection needle. Firmly press the tube onto the collection needle.
   

   NOTE: Gray-top tube is for Urine Culture ONLY.

3. The tube will fill with urine. When the tube is full, or the required minimum of 3.0 mL is transferred, remove the tube from the collection needle. Invert the tube several times to mix.
4. Replace the yellow protective label over the collection needle on the container's blue-cap.
5. Properly label the evacuated gray-top Culture tube with the patient name and date of birth.
6. Send the gray-top tube to the Microbiology Laboratory.
7. If a Urinalysis specimen is requested with the Urine Culture, fill the yellow-cap conical tube (shown below) using the instructions listed above in steps 1 through 4.  THis tube must be received in the laboratory within 2 hours (room temperature) or 24 hours (refrigerated).
8. Properly discard ant remaining urine.  Dispose the blue cap of the collection cup into an appropriate sharps biohazard container.
   
   

   NOTE: Yellow-top tube is for Urinalysis ONLY.

Contacts

Last Updated

1/8/2020