Chapter 6 Urine Collection

Sterile Collection Methods

Clean Catch

Three-glass

Catheterization

Suprapubic aspirations

Clean Catch

• Method of choice for non-contaminated specicem

• Used for bacterial examination and/or routine urinalysis

• External genital is cleansed with mild/antiseptic solution

Three-Glass

• Used to determine Prostate Infection

• Prostate is massaged prior third container collection

• UTI = Increased WBCs and Bacteria in second and third containers

• Prostate

Catheterization

• Insertion of a sterile tubing of the bladder

• For patients difficulty voiding

• Used to avoid vaginal contamination during menstruation

• Shouldnt be used routinely for the risk of infection

Suprapubic Aspiration 

• Insertion of a needle directly to the distended bladder

• Avoids vaginal and urethral contamination 

• Used for cytology stduies

• Used on infants and children 

Random Collection

• Collected at any time and usally sufficient for most urinary screening test

First Morning

• Usally the most concentrated and is the perfered specimen of choice

Postprandrial

• Specimens are collected 2-3 hours after eating

• Often used for carbohydrate metabolism disorders (Diabetes)

Timed

• Collected at a particular time

24-Hour

• Urinary substances are excerted in varying concentrations throughout the days

• Patient empties bladder and discards urine

• All urine is collected for 24 hours

• May order 12 hour or 2 hour timed specimens

Boric Acid

Used to perserve urine for culture and senstivity

Chloroform

• Used for inhibit growth, but not recomed for routine specimen

• May be used as a preservative for Aldosterone

Chlorhexidine

prevents bacterial grwoth and useful as glucose preservative

• Urines stable for up to 72 hours, if protected from light (for bolirubin and urobilinogen)

Formalin

• Good perservative for urinary sediment

• 1 drop/30mL urine

Perservative Tablets

• Usally act releaseing formaldehyde

• 1 tablet/30mL urine

Toluene

• Perserves ketones, proteins, and reducing substances but not effective agaisnt bacteria

• 2mL/100mL urine

Thymol

• One small crystal

• An adequate but rarely used persservative

Unpreserved Urine Specimens

• Urine pregancy

• Urine for detection of infectious disease by molecular methods (refigerated up to 24 hours)