Collection Instructions

Voided urine specimens for culture should be collected as a mid-stream, clean catch specimen (see general information on the left of this page) into a sterile, screw cap container.

I&O Catheter specimens should allow the first 15 mLs of urine to pass and collect the remainder of the urine in a sterile screw cap container.

Indwelling catheters: disinfect catheter collection port; aspirate 5-10 ml of urine with a syringe.

Specimens should be refrigerated immediately after collection and may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

LABEL ALL SPECIMENS CLEARLY WITH PATIENT NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, DATE & TIME OF COLLECTION.