NCLIP

Urine Specimen Collection (Clean-Catch and 24-Hour)

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Urine Specimen Collection (Clean-Catch and 24-Hour)

Key Points

  • Correct collection technique is critical for reliable urinalysis and culture interpretation.
  • Clean-catch method reduces external contamination by collecting midstream urine.
  • Timed collection quality depends on exact start/stop timing and full capture of all urine.
  • Bedside labeling and prompt transport/storage prevent preanalytical errors.

Equipment

  • Clean specimen container(s) and labels
  • Collection hat/urinal or bedside commode supplies per patient status
  • Gloves and hand hygiene supplies
  • Biohazard transport bag and requisition materials
  • Timed-collection container and tracking log for 24-hour collection

Procedure Steps

  1. Verify order, patient identity, collection type, and required test timing.
  2. Perform hand hygiene, apply gloves, explain purpose and collection steps.
  3. For clean-catch: provide perineal cleansing instructions, begin void into toilet/hat, collect midstream portion in sterile cup without touching inside surfaces.
  4. For 24-hour collection: discard first void at start time, collect all subsequent urine including final void at stop time.
  5. Keep timed specimen in required storage conditions per facility/lab policy.
  6. Avoid contamination with stool, toilet paper, menstrual blood, or nonsterile contact.
  7. Label at bedside with identifiers, date/time, and collection type (for example, clean-catch or 24-hour).
  8. Transport promptly or store per policy until transport is possible.
  9. Document method, timing, patient tolerance, and any collection issues.

Common Errors

  • Collecting first stream instead of midstream for clean-catch → contamination risk.
  • Missing one void during timed collection → invalid 24-hour result.
  • Incomplete labeling or delayed transport → specimen rejection or inaccurate interpretation.

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