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.