Urine Collection Procedures

Clean Catch Midstream Collection (CCMS)

Used for urine culture, urine myoglobin and reducing substances, as well as for cytodiagnostic urinalysis and cytology.

Clean catch is the recommended collection procedure for all routine urinalysis requests.

Materials

1. Sterile urine collection container
2. Soap pads or towelettes
3. Labels
4. Requisition form

Procedure for Female Patients

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Separate the skin folds around the urinary opening. Wash the area with a soap pad or towelette using a front to back motion. Repeat two additional times.
3. Begin urinating into the toilet with skin folds held apart with the fingers.
4. Insert collection container into urine stream without allowing container to touch the skin area.
5. Fill half of the container and remove from the urine stream.
6. Replace the container lid and screw tightly and snap shut.
7. Label the container and note the collection date and time on the label.
8. Refrigerate the specimens until ready for transport to the laboratory.

Procedure for Male Patients

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Wash the head of the penis with the towelette or soap pad.
3. Complete above procedure steps 4-8.

Urine Cultures

A sterile container with a lid supplied in the urine collection kit must be used for urine cultures, and these specimens must be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection or refrigerated immediately. Refrigeration must be maintained until delivery of the specimen to the laboratory.

24-Hour Urine Collections

Incorrect collection and preservation of a 24-hour urine collection will cause inaccuracy in lab testing.

The 24-hour urine specimen should be submitted in a wide-mouth, chemical clean, and properly labeled urine container. The laboratory will supply the proper preservative with the container, and the container will be given to the patient prior to the collection. This preservative may consist of boric or hydrochloric acid, which may burn if it touches the skin.

Instructions to the patient:

Instructions to the patient should clearly explain the following points:

1. The collection of the 24-hour urine starts with the patient voiding (completely emptying bladder) and discarding the first urine passed in the morning.
2. Except for this first discarded urine, all of the urine passed during that day and night, up to and including the first voiding the following day, should be collected.
3. If possible, the entire specimen should be refrigerated during the entire collection and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible after completion of the collection.
4. The container should be labeled with patient’s name and the time and date the collection started and ended.