Specimen Requirements

Call Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory Microbiology Department at 406-752-1737 prior to specimen collection for specific instructions.

Urine

Container/Tube: Plastic urine container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL (minimum volume: 0.5 mL) from a random urine collection

Collection Instructions: No preservative. Collect urine by catheter, clean-catch, or U-Bag.

Catheterized

1. Do not collect urine from drainage bag.
2. Disinfect catheter collection port with 70% alcohol.
3. Use a needle and syringe to aseptically collect urine.
4. Transfer specimen to sterile tube or container.
5. Label container/tube with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.  

Clean-Catch, Midstream

   Males

1. Cleanse glans with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding foreskin retracted, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a screw-capped, sterile container.
5. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

   Females

1. Thoroughly cleanse urethral area with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding labia apart, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a screw-capped, sterile container.
5. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Infants or Small Children

1. After cleansing appropriately, as above, place a sterile urine bag (U-Bag, Pedi-Bag) over labia or penis.
2. After 30 minutes, observe for presence of urine. If no urine is present, recleanse patient and attach a new bag.
3. Transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container.
4.  Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.