Collection of mid-stream specimens of urine

Collection of a mid-stream specimen of urine is a procedure which is often carried out poorly. The following protocol illustrates the correct technique:

Males:

• the patient's bladder should be full
• the foreskin is retracted
• the glans penis is cleaned with a sterile swab
• the patient voids into the toilet until the bladder has been half emptied
• a sterile container is placed in the urine stream without the patient interrupting voiding
• voiding is completed into the toilet

Females:

• the patients bladder should be full
• the labia are separated and held retracted throughout the procedure
• the vulva is cleaned with sterile swabs from front to back
• the patient voids into the toilet until the bladder has been half emptied
• a sterile container is placed in the urine stream without the patient interrupting voiding
• voiding is completed into the toilet