Urine Collection for Urinalysis or Culture

Specimen Handling

The clean catch is the preferred method for collection of urine for urinalysis or culture.
The urine specimen should be brought to the laboratory immediately after collection or placed in a refrigerator to prevent specimen deterioration and altered test results.
If refrigerated the entire time, a specimen is acceptable for testing for 24 hours.
Label the container with your last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, and physician’s name.
Deliver the specimen to any of our patient care centers along with any paperwork your physician has given you.
You will first need to register, so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, rinse, and dry them on a disposable paper towel.
Retract the foreskin completely. Cleanse the tip of the penis with towelettes.
Open the container. Be careful not to touch the inside or the rim of the container.
Begin to urinate into toilet. Void approximately 20-25 ml or (½ ounce), then stop the stream and catch the middle portion of the urine in the container.
Screw the cap tightly onto the container.
Place the container in the specimen bag.
Label the container immediately with last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, and your physician’s name, and transport to the laboratory along with the doctor's order.
You will first need to register, so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, rinse, and dry them on disposable paper towel.
Open towelettes and the container. Be careful not to touch the rim or inside of the container.
To cleanse the periurethral area (labial folds, vulva, urethral meatus), spread the labia with one hand, wipe the area three times front to back, each time with a fresh towelette: one- right side / two- left side / three- down the middle. Discard the towelettes after each cleansing.
Begin to urinate into the toilet. Void approximately 20-25 ml (½ ounce), then stop the stream and catch the middle portion of the urine in the container. Do not touch the legs, vulva, or clothing with the cup.
Screw the cap tightly onto the container.
Place container in the specimen bag.
Label the container immediately with your last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, and your physician’s name, and transport it to the laboratory along with the doctor's order.
You will first need to register, so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.

Your doctor has ordered a 24-hour urine collection for testing.

You will be given a large collection jug. Upon request, a “toilet hat” can be used to assist in the collection. This hat is placed between the toilet seat and the rim.
Label the container with your last name, first name, date of birth, date and time of collection, and your physician’s name.
The sample should be kept cold during collection. You may place the container in an iced – bucket or cooler.
Deliver the specimen to one of our patient care centers along with any paperwork your physician has given you.
You will first need to register, so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.

Collect every drop of your urine produced during a 24-hour period.
Begin the collection in the morning or at a time specified by your physician.
At that specified time, pass your 1st urine, flush it down the toilet, and note the exact time.
Thereafter, collect every single drop of urine during the day and night.
The next morning, exactly 24 hours from the start time, you should empty your bladder and add that urine to the collection jug. The collection is now complete.
There should be no more than a 5 to 10-minute variation between the start and stop time.
If you find that you must urinate an hour or so before the designated stop time, go ahead and do so, and add to the collection jug. Then drink a full glass of water so that you can urinate again one last time at the designated stop time.
Deliver the sample to the laboratory within 24 hours for testing.
You will first need to register, so please do not drop off your specimen and leave.

For questions regarding urinalysis labs or urine collection for urinalysis or culture, please contact The Elliot Laboratory Services.

Call: 603-663-3555