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Urine

Midstream or Clean-Catch Urine:

  • Assist or allow patient to independently cleanse perineum and collect specimen.
  • Clean the urethral opening (and vaginal vestibule in females) with soap and water or wipes included in collection kit. In males, retract the foreskin before micturation.
  • Open specimen container and do not touch inside of container.
  • After the patient has initiated urine stream, pass urine specimen container into stream and collect midstream portion of urine.
  • Replace cap securely on specimen container.
  • Transport to laboratory immediately or refrigerate and transport at 2 - 8°C.

First – Void Urine:

  • The patient should have not urinated for at least 1 hour prior to specimen collection.
  • Collect specimen in a sterile, plastic, preservative- free specimen collection cup.
  • The patient should collect 15 – 20mL of voided urine, maximum of 60 ML
    (the first part of the stream- NOT midstream).
  • Label with patient identification, collection time and date.
  • Store and transport urine specimen refrigerated.

If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call

NPHL Client Services at 402-559-2440 or toll free at 1-866-290-1406.