Urine Specimen Collection

1. Urine Specimen Collection Heather Nelson, RN

2. Urine Specimens • Collected for a number of tests: • Clean voided specimens • For routine urinalysis • Clean-catch or midstream urine specimens • For urine culture • Timed urine specimens • For a variety of tests that depend of the client’s specific health problem

3. Obtaining Samples • Clients need varying degrees of instruction and assistance to provide clean voided specimens. • About 120 ml (4 oz) of urine is generally required. • Clients who are seriously ill, physically incapacitated, or disoriented may need to use a bedpan or urinal in bed. Others may require supervision and/or assistance in the bathroom.

4. Directions for Collection • The nurse should explain that all specimens must be free of fecal contamination, so voiding needs to occur at a different time from defection. • Instruct female clients to discard toilet tissue in the toilet or in a waste bag rather than in the bedpan or hat, since tissue in the specimen makes laboratory analysis more difficult.

5. Obtaining Specimen • When the specimen is obtained, put the lid tightly on the container to prevent spillage and contamination. • Label the specimen.

6. Obtaining Timed Specimens • All timed urine specimens should be refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth and decomposition of the urine components. • Each voiding of urine is collected in a clean container and then emptied immediately into the large refrigerated bottle.

7. Obtaining Timed Samples • Alert signs are placed in the client’s room to remind staff of the test in progress. • Specimen identification labels need to indicate the date and time of each voiding in addition to the usual identification information.

8. Obtaining Timed Samples • Clients need to be told why the test is being done and how they can assist. • Instructions should include the following: • All urine must be saved and placed in the specimen containers once the test starts. • The urine must be free of fecal contamination and toilet tissue. • Each specimen must be given to the nursing staff immediately so that it can be placed in the appropriate specimen bottle.

9. Obtaining Timed Samples • The collection period is started by having the client void in the toilet, bedpan, or urinal. • This urine is usually discarded, but check facility procedure. • All subsequent urine specimens are collected.