Urine Specimen Collection (Catheterized)

1. Place patient in a comfortable supine position. If female, have legs drawn up with heels together and knees spread wide apart.
2. Use aseptic technique.  Wear sterile gloves and work from an appropriate sterile field. Use of a commercially prepared kit that contains all of the necessary materials is recommended.
3. With sterile soapy cotton balls, or equivalent, cleanse urethral meatus and around the meatus.
4. Rinse cleansed area beginning at urethra and working away from it with two successive cotton balls.
5. Pass the sterile catheter (size 10 or 12 French) into the urethra and advance until urine flows freely. The first several milliliters from the catheter should be discarded, then collect the specimen into a sterile specimen cup.
6. Urine samples can be obtained from indwelling catheters using a #28 needle and syringe. Be sure to disinfect the area where the needle puncture is to be made. Urine can be aspirated through the soft rubber connector between the catheter and collecting tubing.
7. Do not obtain urine from catheter bags except in the case of neonates or young infants when special precautions have been taken.

References:

National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Physician Office Laboratory Procedure Manual; Tentative Guidelines NCCLS Publication Pol 2-T, Villanova, PA, NCCLS 1989.

Miller JM. 1999. A Guide to Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology. ASM Press. Washington DC. 2^nd Edition.

Revised: 5/2/2007