Clean catch/midstream, catheter, cystoscopic, or suprapubic urine in a sterile plastic container. To collect the specimen from an in-dwelling (Foley) catheter: clamp the collection tubing and allow the specimen to accumulate. Disinfect the rubber diaphragm of the collection port and collect the specimen with a needle and syringe. Transfer specimen to a sterile plastic container. NEVER COLLECT THE SPECIMEN FROM THE BAG ITSELF. No more than one specimen should be collected in each 24-hour period.
Stability:
24 hours refrigerated. Unstable ambient or frozen.
Standard Volume:
5 mL urine.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL urine.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Comments:
Potential pathogens will be quantified and identified. Susceptibility testing will be done if appropriate. Additional charges will be added for these tests. See also: Urine Culture (61500) (no direct smear).
Rejection Criteria:
Delayed transport; unsterile container; frozen specimen or specimen held ambient more than 2 hours; fecal contamination. Unless specimen is considered difficult to recollect, a leaking container will be rejected if there is an indication of mycobacterial infection, such as clinical history or orders for Acid Fast Bacillus (AFB) culture and/or smear.
MEDICARE MAY REQUIRE A SIGNED ADVANCE BENEFICIARY NOTICE (ABN) FOR THIS TEST