Specimen Requirements

• Submit 10 mL of urine from a first-morning specimen.
• Follow directions below for collection.
• Overnight incubation in bladder yields highest bacterial counts.

Males

1. Clean glans with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding foreskin retracted, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a sterile urine container with tightly-fitting lid.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of ≥1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.

Females

1. Thoroughly clean urethral area with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding labia apart, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a sterile urine container with tightly-fitting lid.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport of ≥1 hour, send specimen refrigerated.