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APPENDIX 4: INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING A URINE SPECIMEN

For men

Make sure your bladder is moderately full to minimize possibility of contaminating urine specimen with prostate fluid.
Be sure foreskin is completely retracted.
If you cannot deliver the sample to the lab immediately, refrigerate it.
Description of technique
Retract foreskin completely.
Clean tip of penis with antiseptic-moistened swab. Wipe in a circular motion AWAY from urinary opening.
Discard first swab.
Use another swab to remove excess antiseptic.
Begin voiding into the toilet. Without interrupting the flow, catch a small sample in the container provided by the lab (usually sterile).
Don't touch the inside of the container or lid.
Replace container lid, and deliver sealed container to lab immediately or refrigerate.
For women
Submit a "clean catch" urine specimen for examination. "Clean catch" means specimen is not contaminated with vaginal discharge, menstrual blood or bacteria on external genitalia.
If the laboratory technician finds discharge, blood or bacteria present in your specimen, it is impossible to determine whether he is viewing a contaminant or an abnormality present in your urinary system.
If you cannot deliver the sample to the lab immediately, refrigerate it.
Description of technique
If you have vaginal discharge or are menstruating, first insert a fresh tampon into the vagina.
Hold a suitable piece of clean material over the vaginal outlet to prevent contamination of the specimen.
Spread the lips of the vagina apart with thumb and forefinger. Cleanse the area around the urinary opening three times with mild soap and water or with special cleansing solution provided by the lab.
Clean each side of the urethral opening to the bladder once. Clean the opening with the third cleansing.
With the lips of the vagina spread, start urinating into the toilet. Allow the first portion of the urine to escape.
Bring the container in line with the urinary stream, and collect the specimen.
Non-sterile, clean containers are suitable for collecting a routine urinalysis if a length of time (especially a 24-hour collection) passes before specimen is examined.
Keep the collected specimen in your refrigerator until you take it to the lab.
A sterile container is provided if the specimen must be submitted for a bacteriological culture. Don't touch the inside of the container or lid if the test is for infection.
For infants
Obtain special equipment and instructions from your physician or laboratory.
Note: See Appendix X, for how to collect a 24-hour urine specimen.

From Complete Guide to Medical Tests by H. Winter Griffith, M.D. Copyright by Fisher Books. Electronic rights by Medical Data Exchange.

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