Clean-Catch Urine for Microbiological Studies

While the technique of collecting a clean-catch urine specimen is not complex, the possibility of contamination makes it imperative that instructions to the patient be complete and understandable. This will gain the patient's cooperation and thus insure the collection of an acceptable specimen.

Note: Unless the clean-catch specimen is going to be transported immediately to the laboratory, the specimen should be refrigerated at 4-6° C. Alternatively, it may be transferred into a container with boric acid. If this is done, refrigeration is not required. Specimens placed in containers with boric acid cannot be used for a complete urinalysis.

Supplies Needed for Each Patient

  1. A sterile covered container with an opening large enough for easy collection.
  2. Two commercial towelettes containing benzalkonium chloride.

Collection Instructions (Females):

  1. Supplies should be removed from their packages.
  2. The patient should remove undergarments.
  3. Next, the patient should wash hands with soap and water, rinse, and thoroughly dry the hands with disposable paper towels.
  4. The patient should spread the vaginal lips apart. Then using one of the commercial towelettes, cleanse with one wipe in a front to back motion.
  5. Properly discard this towelette.
  6. Repeat the procedure with the second antiseptic towelette, properly discarding the towelette after use. Instead of antiseptic towelettes, the patient may use gauze pads with soap and water to clean the urethral area. Wet additional gauze pads with water to rinse soap from the area before beginning collection.
  7. Continuing to hold the vaginal lips apart, the patient should begin voiding into the commode. Without stopping the urination, the patient should collect a specimen in the sterile container provided. The container should be held with fingers away from its rim and inner surfaces.
  8. Avoid any contact with its inner surfaces, the lid should be securely tightened to prevent leakage.

Collection Instructions (Males):

  1. Supplies should be removed from their packages.
  2. The hands should be washed as described in procedure #3 above.
  3. The head of the penis (glans penis) should be cleansed with a towelette using a front to back motion. Both antiseptic towelettes should be used. If uncircumcised, the patient should completely retract the foreskin. It should be kept retracted throughout the collection procedure. Alternately, soap and water maybe used to clean the head of the penis. Rinse soap from the area using clean gauze pads and water.
  4. Properly discard the towelettes or gauze pads.
  5. The patient should begin voiding into the commode, and then without stopping, collect a remaining portion of the urine into the sterile container provided.
  6. During the collection, the sterile container should be held as described in procedure #7 above. The lid should be securely replaced after the sample has been collected without touching the inside.

Collection Instructions (Infants):

  1. Gently clean the external genitalia.
  2. Apply a sterile U-bag over the genitalia, and pull the end of the bag through a small hole, which has been cut in the crotch of the infant's diaper.
  3. After the infant urinates, the bag can be removed and the specimen transferred into a sterile container.