Clean catch/midstream, catheter, cystoscopic, or suprapubic urine in a sterile plastic container. A clean, non-sterile container may be used, but will not be suitable for culture. Do not submit syringes with needles attached.
Handling:
Keep refrigerated. Send to laboratory within 24 hours. If delayed, submit specimen in a urinalysis preservative tube, available from Client Services. These special tubes are not designed for use with urine for urine culture.
Stability:
24 hours refrigerated or 72 hours in preservative tube.
Standard Volume:
10 mL urine.
Minimum Volume:
1 mL urine.
Transport:
Refrigerated or in urinalysis preservative tube.
Comments:
Includes color, clarity, specific gravity, pH, blood, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin and uribilinogen, leukocyte esterase, and nitrite.
Rejection Criteria:
Frozen specimen; fecal contamination; specimen submitted with needle attached; unpreserved specimen held longer than 24 hours.