Bacterial Culture, aerobic culture only - Urine, Routine

Refer to CLS Form #MI6007:
Midstream Urine Collection (Non-Pediatric) - Patient Instruction Sheet, or
CLS Form #MI6010:
Urine Collection for C&S (Infants)/Affixing Pediatric Urine Collection Bags - Patient Instruction Sheet, or
CLS Form #MI6071:
Urine Specimen Collection Instructions for Chlamydia/Neisseria gonorrhoeae Testing and Midstream Urine Combined.

Acceptable routine urine sources include:

• midstream (MSU),
• catheter (in/out or indwelling),
• pedibag,
• cystoscopy,
• urostomy, or
• hat collection *(commode pan).

Information for Healthcare Providers and Laboratory Staff:
If >/= 5 mL volume collected, then immediately after collection transfer urine into a Urine Culture Transport tube. Refer to CLS Form #MI6009 Urine Vacutainer Tube for Culture & Sensitivity Instructions for Healthcare Providers.

Use transfer device provided.
DO NOT fill tubes by pouring urine, or injecting urine, into the tube.
The urine MUST meet the minimum fill line to be valid.

Overfilling of the transport tube will invalidate results.
The tube is overfilled if the volume is greater than one half (1/2) inch over the minimum fill line.
 
If <5mL volume collected, DO NOT transfer urine to transport tube.
Plant immediately, if culture plates available.
If culture plates are not available, refrigerate the urine immediately after collection and submit to CLS Microbiology as soon as possible. Urine is stable for 24 hours if refrigerated. Urine specimens >24 hours old will not be processed. Urine may be submitted in a sterile container.

*Hat collection: If the patient is unable to collect the urine specimen into the sterile container provided, it is acceptable to provide them with a disposable commode pan (hat) to collect the specimen.

The urine specimen must then be immediately transferred from the disposable commode pan (hat) into the sterile container provided, and then into the Urine Culture Transport tube.  Refer to CLS Form #MI6009 Urine Vacutainer Tube for Culture & Sensitivity Instructions for Healthcare Providers.

“Hat collection” should be noted on the requisition.

 Other non-sterile collection containers are NOT acceptable.

Store the inoculated transport tubes at room temperature until sent to CLS Microbiology.

Urine transport tubes must arrive at CLS Microbiology within 48 hours of collection.
If culture plates are not available, refrigerate the urine immediately after collection and submit to CLS Microbiology as soon as possible. Urine is stable for 24 hours if refrigerated. Urine specimens >24 hours old will not be processed.

Clearly indicate definitive source of urine (collection method) on requisition.

Indicate Candida/Yeast on requisition if required.
Refer to Fungal Culture, Urine for fungal requests.

Turnaround time for negative result: 1 day.

Urine colony count results are expressed in S.I. units: colony forming units/litre (CFU/L).