Specimen Requirement

Female Midstream: Thoroughly cleanse the urethral area. While holding the labia apart, begin voiding. After
several milliliters have passed, collect a midstream portion in a sterile container without stopping the flow of urine.

Male Midstream: Thoroughly cleanse the glans. While holding the foreskin retracted, begin voiding. After several
milliliters have passed, collect a midstream portion in a sterile container without stopping the flow of urine.

Straight Catheter: Thoroughly cleanse the urethral area. Aseptically insert a catheter into the bladder.
After allowing 15 ml to pass, collect 5-10 ml urine into a sterile container.

Indwelling Catheter: Patients with indwelling catheters may be asymptomatically colonized; do not culture unless
patient is symptomatic.  Clamp catheter below port and allow urine to collect in tubing for 10-20 minutes.  Disinfect the catheter collection port with 70% alcohol. Use a needle and syringe to aseptically collect 5-10 ml of urine. Transfer urine to a sterile container. 

Suprapubic Aspirate: Decontaminate the skin from the umbilicus to the urethra. Anesthetize the skin at the
insertion site. Introduce the needle into the full bladder at the midline between the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus, 2 cm above the symphysis. Aspirate about 20 ml of urine from the bladder. Transfer the urine aseptically into a sterile container. Contamination of the urine by urethral microflora may be prevented
by suprapubic aspiration.