Urine samples are collected for a variety of testing reasons, such as screening for infection, drugs or pregnancy. A clean catch urine sample is sometimes requested to prevent contamination of the urine by any agents that may be present on the tissues in and surrounding the penis and vagina. When the procedures for a clean catch sample are not followed, a follow up urine test may be requested.
Sterile Container
Patients will be provided a sterile container by the attending health professional for collecting urine. Care should be taken when handling the collection container to avoid contamination. Most medical facilities use sterile plastic cups. Infant urine samples often are gathered with a urine collection bag. These bags have adhesive patches to keep them in place until the infant urinates.
Cleansing
At the start of the collection patients need to use soap and water to cleanse the hands. The National Institutes of Health explains that the head of the penis or the labia must be washed. Many facilities provide several sterile wipes for this purpose. The University of California, San Francisco points out that antiseptic cleansing agents should not be used to prepare for the test. Males can simply wipe the head of the penis. Women must use one hand to separate the labia from the vagina and the other han to wipe down each side of the vagina and over the labia itself. The labia should remain separated until the urine collection has been completed. Infants and children should be assisted in cleansing the genital areas.
Catching
Infant samples will be taken as soon as urine as entered the collection bag. Older children or adults should begin to urinate into the toilet before holding the collection cup into the stream. The start of the urine stream should not enter the collection cup. As soon as the urine begins to flow, the cup can be inserted to begin capturing a sample of about 1 or 2 ounces. The purpose of this midstream catch is to clear the urethra of contaminants. Women can release the labia once the specimen is collected. Patients can continue to empty the bladder into the toilet after a sufficient amount of urine has been captured.
