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Collecting Urine for Bacteriological Culture and Examination

Specimen Type
Clean catch, midstream voided.

Materials Needed
  • Sterile urine collection container.
  • 3 towlettes
Activity
Patient cleaning.

Female
  1. Wash hands thoroughly.
  2. Carefully unscrew the cap of the collection container.
  3. Separate the labia. Keep separated until you are finished.
  4. Using each towelette singly wipe the labia from front to back with one stroke.
  5. Discard each towelette after use.
Male
  1. Wash hands thoroughly.
  2. Carefully unscrew the cap of the collection container.
  3. Expose the head of the penis.
  4. Using each towelette singly, thoroughly clean the head of the penis.
  5. Discard each towelette after use.
Activity
Collecting the urine.
  • Start to urinate into the toilet or bedpan. Stop midway of the urine flow.
  • Hold the container in the path of the urine. Do not touch the inside of the container.
  • Urinate into the container until the container is at least ¼ full.
  • Remove the container and finish urinating into the toilet or bedpan.
  • Screw the lid securely onto the urine container.
Activity
Labeling the specimen.
  • Label the specimen in the presence of the patient as follows. Patient legal name (last name, then first name) unique identification number (social security number or date of birth), date and time the specimen was collected.