Specimen Requirements

Urine - clean catch

1. Instruct patient to thoroughly cleanse skin.
2. Collect 1 mL of midstream urine specimen using a clean-catch urine kit supplied. First-morning specimen is preferred.
3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Send specimen refrigerated if specimen storage is >1 hour.

Note:  1. Include antibiotic information.
2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Urine - catheterized

1. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with sterile needle, and collect  ml of urine in sterile syringe.  Do not collect urine from the drainage bag. 

2. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.  Send specimen refrigerated if specimen storage is > 1 hour. 

Note: 1. Indicate whether specimen is from straight catheterization or from an indwelling Foley catheter.

2. Include antibiotic information.

3. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.