Obtaining a Urine Specimen From an Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Goal: An adequate amount of urine is obtained from the patient without contamination or adverse effect; the patient experiences minimal anxiety during the collection process; and the patient demonstrates an understanding of the reason for the specimen.

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.

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

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

6. Put on unsterile gloves.

7. Clamp the catheter drainage tubing or bend it back on itself distal to the port. If an insufficient amount of urine is present in the tubing, allow the tubing to remain clamped up to 30 minutes, to collect a sufficient amount of urine, unless contraindicated (Fischbach & Dunning, 2006). Remove lid
from specimen container, keeping the inside of the container and lid free from contamination.

8. Cleanse aspiration port with alcohol wipe and allow port to air dry.

9. Insert the needle or blunt-tipped cannula into the port, or attach the syringe to the needleless port. Slowly aspirate enough urine for specimen (usually 10 mL is adequate; check facility requirements). Remove the needle, blunttipped cannula, or syringe from the port. Engage the needle guard. Unclamp the drainage tubing.

10. If a needle or blunt-tipped cannula was used on the syringe, remove from the syringe before emptying the urine from the syringe into the specimen cup. Place the needle into sharps collection container. Slowly inject urine into specimen container. Replace lid on container. Dispose of syringe appropriately.

11. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.

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

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

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