Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Catheterized Specimen

1. Avoid sending urine that has remained stagnant in catheter tubing for any length of time, do not send catheter bag urine, and 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 2 to 3 mL of urine in sterile syringe.

3. Place urine into a screw-capped, sterile container. (Improperly labeled specimen, or specimen in non-sterile or leaky container is not acceptable.)

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, type of specimen, and collector’s initials.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. 

Note: 1. Collection method used and specimen source are required.

2. Urine in preservative (grey top tube) is good for 48 hours at room temperture.

3. Urines that are not in a preservative are good for 2 hours at room temperture and 24 hours if refrigerated.

Clean-Catch Specimen

1. Collect 2 to 3 mL of clean-catch, midstream urine as follows:

Males

A. Prepare obstetrical 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 obstetrical 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. Even 2 mL is an adequate specimen for test.

3. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely and wash any spilled urine from outside of container. (Improperly labeled specimen, or specimen in non-sterile or leaky container is not acceptable.)

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, type of specimen, and collector’s initials.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of ≥3 hours, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: 1. Collection method used and specimen source are required.

2. Urine in preservative ( grey top tube) is good for 24 hours at room temperture.

3. Urines that are not in preservative are good for 2 hours at room temperture and 24 hours if refrigerated.

Operative Specimen

1. Submit 2 to 3 mL of urine in a screw-capped, sterile container obtained by surgeon. (Improperly labeled specimen, or specimen in non-sterile or leaky container is not acceptable.)

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and time of collection, type of specimen, and collector’s initials.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of ≥3 hours, send specimen refrigerated.

Note: 1. Collection method used and specimen source are required.

2. Urine in preservative ( grey top tube) is good for 24 hours at room temperture.

3. Urines that are not in a preservative are good for 2 hours at room temperture and 24 hours if refrigerated.