Collecting a Single Voided Urine Specimen

Procedure

1. Check the request and explain clearly what a midstream specimen means.
2. Give a sterile labelled container and gloves, and ensure privacy.
3. Ask the patient to wash the hands and clean the genital area front to back.
4. Instruct the patient to pass the first part of the stream into the toilet.
5. Catch the middle portion in the container without touching the inside.
6. Ask them to finish voiding into the toilet and close the lid firmly.
7. Wash hands, check the label details against the patient and complete the request form.
8. Send to the laboratory within one hour, or refrigerate if there will be a delay.
9. Record the time of collection and the appearance of the urine.