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Test Code C Urine Urine Culture

Important Note

Reflex testing ordered as appropiate

Collect specimen prior to start of antibiotic treatment

Performing Laboratory

Memorial Hospital-Microbiology Laboratory     304-388-9353
Greenbrier Valley Laboratory   304-647-6060

Specimen Collection Requirements

Male

  1. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
  2. Holding back foreskin with 1 hand, if necessary, use first Towelette to wash end of penis. Discard first Towelette in wastebasket.
  3. Continue holding back foreskin; and gently rinse end of penis using second and third Towelette, discarding them in wastebasket when done.
  4. Continue holding back foreskin, and begin to urinate into toilet.

Female

  1. Prepare obstetrical Towelettes by opening packages (do not remove Towelettes until ready to use), and place them on sink. Take top off of plastic urine container, and set it on edge of sink. Set Towelettes and container so that they can be reached while urinating.
  2. Pull panties below knees so they will not interfere with urine collection. With 2 fingers of 1 hand, hold outer folds of vagina apart. With other hand, gently wash vaginal area from front to back, using first Towelette. After this step, throw away first Towelette in wastebasket.
  3. Still holding outer vaginal skin away from opening through which urination takes place, rinse area from front to back using Towelette #2, discard, and then repeat with Towelette #3.
  4. Continue holding outer vaginal folds apart, and begin to urinate into toilet. Lean slightly forward so that urine flows directly down without running along skin.
  5. After first few teaspoons, place screw-capped, sterile container under stream of urine; and collect rest of urine in container. Even 1/4 cup is an adequate specimen for test.
  6. After finishing, tighten cap on container securely; and wash any spilled urine from outside of container.

Specimen Requirements

If specimen cannot arrive within 2 hours of collection, transfer specimen to Becton-Dickinson Urine Collection Kit. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen. Send specimen refrigerated in a screw-capped, sterile container. Maintain sterility and forward promptly. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

 

Catheterized Specimen

  1.  Avoid sending urine that has remained stagnant in catheter tubing for any length of time, do not send catheter bag urine, and avoid sending urine from catheters that have been in place longer than 5 to 9 days.
  2. Clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe.
  3. Pour urine into a screw-capped, sterile container. Mix well.

Clean-Catch, Midstream Specimen

  1. Collect a clean-catch, midstream urine following specimen collection requirements.

Cystoscopy Urine

  1. Following insertion of cystoscope; allow first portion of specimen to drain in collection pan; and then, collect specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

Suprapubic Aspirate

  1. Clean suprapubic skin with iodine followed by alcohol.
  2. Be sure at least 4 to 6 hours has elapsed since last urination.
  3. Insert 22-gauge needle attached to a 20-mL syringe into skin at about a 30° angle to abdominal wall, immediately superior to symphysis in midline.
  4. Aspirating as one penetrates, stop as urine is obtained; and fill syringe with 10 mL to 15 mL of urine (infants may require a smaller syringe and needle).

Specimen Rejection

  • Improperly labeled, collected, stored, and transported
  • Urine specimen collected from a bed pan

Storage and Stability

Specimen should be examined as soon as possible. Store at 4o C if delayed.

Reference Values

No growth

Methodology

Includes susceptibilities as needed at an additional charge.

Days Test Set Up and Turnaround

Monday through Sunday

CPT Coding

87086-culture

87186-susceptibility, each