Specimen Requirements

1. Clean Catch Midstream Specimen
a. Thoroughly clean the glans (male) or urethral area (female) with soap and water.
b. Rinse area with wet gauze pads.
c. While holding the foreskin (male) or labia apart (female), have patient begin voiding.
d. After several mL of urine have passed, collect midstream portion into a sterile screw-cap container without stopping urine flow.
e. Transport specimen to laboratory without delay.
2. Catheterized Specimen
a. Thoroughly clean urethral area with soap and water.
b. Rinse area with wet gauze squares.
c. Aseptically insert catheter into bladder.
d. Allow 15 mL of urine to pass before collecting urine in a sterile screw-cap container.
e. Alternatively urine can be collected by sterile syringe and needle aspiration using the collection port of an indwelling catheter.
f. Transport specimen to laboratory without delay.
g. Foley catheter tips should not be submitted or accepted for culture because they will invariably be contaminated with skin flora and quantitation is not possible.