Specimen Requirements

Acceptable Specimens:

1.  Clean catch midstream

2.  Catheterized specimens:  straight catheter

3.  Catheterized specimens:  indwelling (Foley) catheters

4.  Ileal conduit

5.  Suprapubic aspirate

6.  Cystoscopy

Specimens should be inoculated to media within 2 hours after passage or it may be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Preservative containing transport tubes are available for situations in which the specimen must be transported without refrigeration.  It is recommended that specimens in transport tubes also be inoculated within 24 hours of collection.  Transport tubes require a minimum of 3 ml of urine for dilution of the preservative and best recovery of pathogens.

Unacceptable Specimens:

1.  Urine taken from a urinal or bedpan for culture

2.  Urine collected from the Foley bag for culture

3.  Foley catheter tips for culture

4.  Specimens received more than two hours after collection with no evidence of refrigeration

5.  Refrigerated specimens older than 24 hours