Collecting a Urine Specimen (Clean Catch, Midstream) for Urinalysis and Culture

Goal: An adequate amount of urine is obtained from the patient without contamination.

1. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed table.

2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.

3. Identify the patient. Explain the procedure to the patient. If the patient can perform the task without assistance after instruction, leave the container at bedside with instructions to call the nurse as soon as a specimen is produced.

4. Have the patient perform hand hygiene, if performing selfcollection.

5. Check the specimen label with the patient’s identification bracelet. Label should include patient’s name and identification number, time specimen was collected, route of collection, identification of the person obtaining sample, and any other information required by agency policy.

6. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room, if possible.

7. Put on unsterile gloves. Assist the patient to the bathroom, or onto the bedside commode or bedpan. Instruct the patient not to defecate or discard toilet paper into the urine.

8. Instruct the female patient to separate the labia for cleaning of the area and during collection of urine. Female patients should use the towelettes or wet washcloth to clean each side of the urinary meatus, then the center over the meatus, from front to back, using a new wipe or a clean area of the washcloth for each stroke. Male patients should use a towelette to clean the tip of the penis, wiping in a circular motion away from the urethra. Instruct the uncircumcised male patient to retract the foreskin before cleaning and during collection.

9. Have patient void a small amount of urine into the toilet, bedpan, or commode. The patient should then stop urinating briefly, then void into collection container. Collect specimen (10 to 20 mL is sufficient), and then finish voiding. Do not touch the inside of the container or the lid.

10. Place lid on container. If necessary, transfer the specimen to appropriate containers for ordered test, according to facility policy.

11. Assist the patient from the bathroom, off the commode, or off the bedpan. Provide perineal care, if necessary.

12. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.

13. Place label on the container per facility policy. Place container in plastic, sealable biohazard bag.

14. Remove other PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.

15. Transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. If unable to take the specimen to the laboratory immediately, refrigerate it.