Urine Samples
Urine collection can be useful for diagnosing urinary tract infections.
Specimens should be collected mid-stream, allowing for the urethra to be cleaned first.
Collection bags can be used for yound children, but contamination is common. Negative results are the most meaningful.
Suprapubic aspiration or stright catheters allow specimens to be obtained directly from the bladder, yielding a lower cutoff. This means of sample collection is quite invasive.
Collection from indwelling catheters is done by inserting a needle into the catheter. It is preferable to use a new catheter.
Transport
Specimens must be transported as quickly as possible and refrigerated if it is not going to be received within 1-2 hours.
Specimens should include as much information as possible, such as the method and time of collection and the patient's antibiotics.