Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Urine

Container/Tube:  BD grey-top urine transport tube (preserved)

Alternative Container/ Tube: Sterile Cup (see Collection instructions and Stability below)

Specimen Volume: 0.5 to 5 mL

Collection Instructions:  Clean Catch midstream is the optimal sample.  Random urine is not acceptable for culture.

Onsite: Specimens may be collected in a sterile container and delivered to the Microbiology Laboratory immediately.

Off-site: Specimen should be placed in sterile container and kept refrigerated prior to transport to MBMC. If >5 mL is collected, the specimen should be transferred to a BD urine tube (preserved). Urine volumes <5 mL should not use a BD transport tube as excessive preservative may be inhibitory to organisms.