Specimen Requirements

1. Collect at least 5 mL to 10 mL from a first-morning catheterized or voided urine in a sterile urine cup or a B-D VACUTAINER.

2. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and time of collection, and source of specimen.

3. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. If there is a delay in transport, send specimen refrigerated.

4. Urines are acceptable for culture if kept refrigerated in sterile specimen cup for 24 hours.

5. Urines received in BD urine transport tubes are acceptable for 48 hours if kept at room temperature.

6. Causes for rejection:

- Inadequately labeled specimen

- Improper container

- Insufficient specimen volume
 

Notes:

1. Specimen source is required.

2. Whenever possible, bacteriological examinations should be carried out before antibiotic therapy is instituted.

3. When a sterile container is submitted, the same specimen may be used for urinalysis if the specimen is of adequate volume (12 mL). Also submit a “Urinalysis” requisition.

4. The B-D VACUTAINER tube cannot be used for routine urinalysis due to the preservative which alters the pH.

5. B-D VACUTAINER cannot be used for Gram stain. Submit urine in a sterile container if Gram stain is requested.