Urine for bacterial culture

Morning urine is recommended or, in case this is not possible, then a specimen collected 2 hours after the last micturition.

When to request this test

Patient not needing assistance

• Give patient a suitable container
• Instruct the patient before the collection, preferably with illustration
• Tell the patient not to touch the inside or the rim of the container
• Tell the patient to wash hands with soap and water, dry hands

Male

• Retract the foreskin and thoroughly wash the end of the penis using a sterile, moist towelette or washcloth soaked in soapy water and rinse with clear water
• Collect the urine until the container is approximately half full (or until flow of urine decreases substantially) and then finish voiding into toilet
• Begin urinating into the toilet
• After the urine stream is well established and without interrupting the urine flow, move the sterile container into the path of the stream to “catch” the urine

Female

• Squat over the toilet and separate the skin fold around the urinary opening with one hand and keep apart until finished collecting the sample
• Collect the urine until the container is approximately half full (or until flow of urine decreases substantially) and then finish voiding into toilet
• Using a sterile, moist towelette (or cotton balls soaked in soap and water), wash the urinary opening and surrounding tissue, front to back and rinse with clear water
• Holding skin folds apart with your fingers, begin urinating into the toilet
• After the urine stream is well established, and without interrupting the urine flow, move the sterile container into the path of the stream to “catch” the urine

Patient needing assistance

• Have ready towelettes / cotton balls or gauze soaked in soap and water
• Explain to the patient what will happen and process as above (patient not needing assistance)

Infants

• Have ready towelettes / cotton balls or gauze soaked in soap and water
• Collect as much urine as possible in the container when the child urinates
• Clean the external genitals as described above
• Give the child as much liquid as possible just prior the collection
• Seat the cild on the lap of the mother, nurse or ward attendant

• Towelettes / cotton balls or gauze soaked in soap and water
• Sterile container
• Bedpan (patient needing assistance)
• Handwarm soapy water

• Do not allow any part of the body to touch the rim or inside of the container
• Do not leave specimen at room temperature