Ordering Recommendations

Specimen source is required to be included as part of the order in EPIC or on the manual requisition.  Indicate if the specimen was collected by an invasive method.

Tests Included

  1. Gram stain is not routinely included.  Must be submitted as a separate order.
  2. Results include colony count plus identification of significant isolates.
  3. Identification and susceptibility tests are performed on applicable isolates.

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Standard reference procedures for culture and identification of aerobic microorganisms

Reported

Overall: 1 - 5 days
Preliminary: 24 hours
Final (Negative): 48 hours
Positives: Results are reported as soon as detected.  Susceptibility results on significant organisms will require an additional minimum of 48 hours.

Synonyms

  • Bacterial Urine Culture
  • Bacterial Culture, Urine
  • Urine Culture, Bacterial
  • Aerobic Bacteria Culture, Urine
  • Bacterial Culture, Aerobic, Urine
  • Culture, Aerobic Bacteria, Urine
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • Bacteriology
  • Microbiology Laboratory

Performing Lab

Microbiology

Add-on Eligibility

Yes
  • C&S Gray Top Tube: Within 3 days of collection
  • Sterile Container/Syringe: Within 24 hours of collection if stored refrigerated
  • Additional Susceptibility Requests: Submit an ADSEN order through EPIC

Patient Preparation

Patients, through instruction by their provider, should collect urine into a sterile container by the “clean catch” method.

Specimen Type

Urine

Specimen Preparation

If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube.

To transfer urine into the C&S Gray Top Tube:
  1. Unscrew the cap on the sterile container containing the urine specimen.
  2. Submerge tip of transfer straw into the specimen.
  1. Push the C&S Gray Top Tube into the transfer straw completely. Hold in position until the flow stops.
  2. Remove C&S Gray Top Tube and invert 8-10 times to completely mix the sample.
  3. Dispose of the transfer straw into the sharps container and screw the cap back onto original sterile container.

Specimen Volume

4 mL (Minimum: 3 mL)

Collection Container

  1. C&S Gray Top Tube
 
OR
 
  1. Sterile Container
 
OR
 
  1. Syringe with needle removed (for suprapubic)

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. More than one specimen within 24 hours
  2. More than one specimen within 48 hours obtained using the same collection method
  3. Specimen requests for anaerobic cultures (except for suprapubic bladder aspirates)
  4. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Urine collected from a catheter bag (except for pediatric specimens) or Foley catheter
  • 24-hour urine collections or pooled specimens
  • Foley catheter tips or syringes with needle attached
  • Specimens collected in sterile container/syringe and stored or transported at room temperature for greater than 2 hours
  • Frozen specimens
  • Specimens that arrive in leaky containers
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions      
Collection Location Collection Container Transport Temperature Timeframe
ED/Inpatient C&S Gray Top Tube Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 days of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site C&S Gray Top Tube Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 days of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
C&S Gray Top Tube: 
  • Room Temperature: 3 days
  • Refrigerated: 3 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable
Sterile Container/Syringe:
  • Room Temperature: 2 hours
  • Refrigerated: 24 hours
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling tubes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity
  2. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation
  3. Include the specimen source on the label

Clean Catch Urine Collection Instructions:

Urine Collection Technique for Women:
  1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  2. Open the towelette and remove the cap on the Sterile Container. Set the cap aside, with the inside facing up. Avoid touching the inside of the cap or container.
  3. Separate the skin folds around the urinary tract opening.
  4. Using the towelette, cleanse the urinary opening and surrounding areas from front to back.  Discard the towelette after cleansing.
  5. Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds and then bring the empty container into the path of the stream to collect a clean, mid-stream specimen.
  6. Finish voiding the remaining urine into the toilet.
  7. Tightly screw the cap back onto the container.
  8. Send fresh, unpreserved specimens to the lab immediately
  • If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube (Refer to specimen preparation instructions).

Urine Collection Technique for Men:
  1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  2. Open the towelette and remove the cap on the Sterile Container. Set the cap aside, with the inside facing up. Avoid touching the inside of the cap or container.
  3. If present, retract the foreskin away from the urethral opening.  Using the towelette, cleanse the urethral opening and work away from the area to cleanse the entire head of the penis.  Discard the towelette after cleansing.
  4. Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds and then bring the empty container into the path of the stream to collect a clean, mid-stream specimen.
  5. Finish voiding the remaining urine into the toilet.
  6. Tightly screw the cap back onto the container.
  7. Send fresh, unpreserved specimens to the lab immediately
  • If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube (Refer to specimen preparation instructions).

General Collection Instructions:
Refer to the following resource for specimen collection instructions for microbiology testing:

Reference Interval

No Growth
Ordering

Ordering Recommendations

Specimen source is required to be included as part of the order in EPIC or on the manual requisition.  Indicate if the specimen was collected by an invasive method.

Tests Included

  1. Gram stain is not routinely included.  Must be submitted as a separate order.
  2. Results include colony count plus identification of significant isolates.
  3. Identification and susceptibility tests are performed on applicable isolates.

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Standard reference procedures for culture and identification of aerobic microorganisms

Reported

Overall: 1 - 5 days
Preliminary: 24 hours
Final (Negative): 48 hours
Positives: Results are reported as soon as detected.  Susceptibility results on significant organisms will require an additional minimum of 48 hours.

Synonyms

  • Bacterial Urine Culture
  • Bacterial Culture, Urine
  • Urine Culture, Bacterial
  • Aerobic Bacteria Culture, Urine
  • Bacterial Culture, Aerobic, Urine
  • Culture, Aerobic Bacteria, Urine
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • Bacteriology
  • Microbiology Laboratory

Performing Lab

Microbiology

Add-on Eligibility

Yes
  • C&S Gray Top Tube: Within 3 days of collection
  • Sterile Container/Syringe: Within 24 hours of collection if stored refrigerated
  • Additional Susceptibility Requests: Submit an ADSEN order through EPIC
Collection

Patient Preparation

Patients, through instruction by their provider, should collect urine into a sterile container by the “clean catch” method.

Specimen Type

Urine

Specimen Preparation

If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube.

To transfer urine into the C&S Gray Top Tube:
  1. Unscrew the cap on the sterile container containing the urine specimen.
  2. Submerge tip of transfer straw into the specimen.
  1. Push the C&S Gray Top Tube into the transfer straw completely. Hold in position until the flow stops.
  2. Remove C&S Gray Top Tube and invert 8-10 times to completely mix the sample.
  3. Dispose of the transfer straw into the sharps container and screw the cap back onto original sterile container.

Specimen Volume

4 mL (Minimum: 3 mL)

Collection Container

  1. C&S Gray Top Tube
 
OR
 
  1. Sterile Container
 
OR
 
  1. Syringe with needle removed (for suprapubic)

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. More than one specimen within 24 hours
  2. More than one specimen within 48 hours obtained using the same collection method
  3. Specimen requests for anaerobic cultures (except for suprapubic bladder aspirates)
  4. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Urine collected from a catheter bag (except for pediatric specimens) or Foley catheter
  • 24-hour urine collections or pooled specimens
  • Foley catheter tips or syringes with needle attached
  • Specimens collected in sterile container/syringe and stored or transported at room temperature for greater than 2 hours
  • Frozen specimens
  • Specimens that arrive in leaky containers
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions      
Collection Location Collection Container Transport Temperature Timeframe
ED/Inpatient C&S Gray Top Tube Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 days of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection
Laboratory/Outpatient/Off-Site C&S Gray Top Tube Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 3 days of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Room Temperature Specimen must be received by the lab within 2 hours of collection
Sterile Container/Syringe Refrigerated (Ice Packs) Specimen must be received by the lab within 24 hours of collection

Storage: Refrigerated

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
C&S Gray Top Tube: 
  • Room Temperature: 3 days
  • Refrigerated: 3 days
  • Frozen: Unacceptable
Sterile Container/Syringe:
  • Room Temperature: 2 hours
  • Refrigerated: 24 hours
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Refrigerated
Laboratory Retention: 7 days

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling tubes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity
  2. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation
  3. Include the specimen source on the label

Clean Catch Urine Collection Instructions:

Urine Collection Technique for Women:
  1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  2. Open the towelette and remove the cap on the Sterile Container. Set the cap aside, with the inside facing up. Avoid touching the inside of the cap or container.
  3. Separate the skin folds around the urinary tract opening.
  4. Using the towelette, cleanse the urinary opening and surrounding areas from front to back.  Discard the towelette after cleansing.
  5. Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds and then bring the empty container into the path of the stream to collect a clean, mid-stream specimen.
  6. Finish voiding the remaining urine into the toilet.
  7. Tightly screw the cap back onto the container.
  8. Send fresh, unpreserved specimens to the lab immediately
  • If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube (Refer to specimen preparation instructions).

Urine Collection Technique for Men:
  1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  2. Open the towelette and remove the cap on the Sterile Container. Set the cap aside, with the inside facing up. Avoid touching the inside of the cap or container.
  3. If present, retract the foreskin away from the urethral opening.  Using the towelette, cleanse the urethral opening and work away from the area to cleanse the entire head of the penis.  Discard the towelette after cleansing.
  4. Urinate into the toilet for a few seconds and then bring the empty container into the path of the stream to collect a clean, mid-stream specimen.
  5. Finish voiding the remaining urine into the toilet.
  6. Tightly screw the cap back onto the container.
  7. Send fresh, unpreserved specimens to the lab immediately
  • If the specimen cannot be sent to the lab immediately, the specimen should be refrigerated or transferred into a C&S Gray Top Tube (Refer to specimen preparation instructions).

General Collection Instructions:
Refer to the following resource for specimen collection instructions for microbiology testing:
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

No Growth

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