Obtaining a Sterile Urine Specimen From a Catheter

Obtaining a Sterile Urine Specimen From a Catheter

Equipment
■ Clean gloves.
■ Antiseptic swab.
■ Sterile specimen container with a lid.
■ Specimen identification label.
■ A 5- to 10-mL sterile syringe with a sterile 21- to 25-gauge needleless access device.

Assessment
■ Assess patency of the catheter (e.g., kinks). Post-Procedure Reassessment
■ Observe for unusual characteristics of the urine (e.g., color, odor, clarity, crystals, blood, mucus).
■ Note any difficulties with urination (e.g., pain, burning, dribbling, difficulty beginning).

Key Points
■ Empty the drainage tube of urine.
■ Be Smart! If the client’s urine is not flowing briskly, clamp the drainage tube below the level of the specimen port for 15 to 30 minutes to allow a fresh sample to collect.
■ Don clean gloves; swab the specimen port with an antiseptic swab.
■ Insert the needleless access device with a 20- or 30-mL syringe into the specimen port; aspirate the amount of urine you need.
■ Transfer the specimen into a sterile specimen container and cap it tightly.
■ Remove the clamp from the catheter and from the tubing of the urinary collection bag.
■ Label and package the specimen according to agency policy.
■ Transport the specimen to the lab. If immediate transport is not possible, refrigerate the sample.
■ Be Safe! Never disconnect the catheter from the drainage tube to obtain a sample. Interrupting the system creates a portal of entry for pathogens, thereby increasing the risk of contamination.

Documentation
■ Chart urine volume in the patient record, per agency protocol, including the time and date that the specimen was collected.
■ Record the characteristics of the urine: color, odor, particulate matter, blood, clarity, or other qualities; and any difficulty with voiding, including pain or burning with urination, frequency, or difficulty starting the urine flow.
■ You may also need to record urine output on the I&O record.

Obtaining a sterile urine specimen from a catheter