Clean Catch Urine Collection

SPECIMEN

First morning urine, when possible. The patient should not be on antimicrobial drugs.

EQUIPMENT

Clean catch urine collector kit or equivalent. The kit includes three towelettes premoistened with benzalkonium chloride and a container for the urine. Alternatively gauze sponges with a 5% tincture of green soap or some other mild disinfectant may be used, in conjunction with a clean collection cup and a B-D Urine Culture Kit.

COLLECTION PROCEDURE - FEMALE

• The patient must wash her hands thoroughly with soap and water, after which they are rinsed and dried on a disposable towel.
• Open the top of the specimen container. Do not touch the inside of the lid or the container.
• Open the envelopes with the towelettes. While spreading the labia with one hand, wash the right side of the vulva well, passing only from front to back with one towelette. Repeat the process on the left side of the vulva and then in the middle. The towelette is then discarded.
• Keeping the labia spread (until after the urine is collected), the front to back wash is repeated with the remaining two towelettes, discarding each after it is used. A total of three such washes is essential.
• Wash the area with fresh tap water to remove the disinfectant.
• With the labia still spread, the patient should void the urine into the toilet. As she continues to void she should bring the container into place so that it is half filled with urine. The container should not touch the legs, vulva or clothing.  Finish urinating in the toilet.
• The half-filled container should be closed tightly with a leak proof cap.
• Label the container with appropriate patient data.
• Place in a tightly sealed biohazard bag and keep the specimen cool until delivery to the lab.

COLLECTION PROCEDURE - MALE

• The patient must wash his hands thoroughly with soap and water, rinse them, and dry on a disposable paper towel.
• The foreskin must be retracted and the glans penis is then cleansed with a disinfectant towelette, proceeding from front to back. Discard the towelette after use.
• Repeat the front to back wash with at least one more towelette.
• Wash the area with fresh tap water to remove the disinfectant.
• The first portion of urine is voided into the toilet, after which the open sterile urine container is passed into the urine stream and half filled.
• The fingers, penis, or clothing should not touch the rim of the container. Finish urinating in the toilet.
• Cap the container tightly with a leak proof cap.
• Label the container with appropriate patient data.
• Place in a tightly sealed biohazard bag and keep the specimen cool until delivery to the lab.

CULTURE NOTE:

If the urine is for culture, immediately fill a B-D gray top urine vacutainer tube. If a B-D tube is not available, place the urine container on ice or refrigerate. If the quantity of urine is less than 5 mL do not use a B-D tube. Send the specimen to the lab as soon as possible. Routine urinalysis testing cannot be done from the B-D gray top tube.