Urine culture – instructions in English

COLLECTION OF URINE SPECIMENS FOR CULTURE

Interpretation of urine culture results critically depends on properly collected urine sample. Therefore, it is essential to carefully read and follow the instructions below.
The sample for urine culture is a midstream flow of urine collected by the clean-catch technique. Ideally, urine for culture should remain in the bladder 4 hours (or longer) prior to sampling.

Using Uricult test (can be obtained at the Polyclinic Breyer)

1. Prepare bathroom and plan ahead, so that the entire procedure can be done without interruptions.
2. Unscrew the Uricult cap from its container and place it on a clean surface vertically, with dip slide up. Be careful not to touch/contaminate the slide's agar surfaces!
3. Make sure the Uricult container is within the reach for urine collection.
4. Thoroughly wash the urogenital region with soap and water. Rinse thorouhly and do not dry.
5. Spread/keep apart and/or hold skin foldings to assure DIRECT urine flow.
6. Start urinating so that the first stream of urine goes OUTSIDE the container (washes off urethral flora). Then continue urinating (midstream flow) INTO the prepared container.
7. Holding Uricult by the cap, dip the slide into freshly voided midstream urine, so that agar surfaces are totally immersed. Remove the slide and allow excess urine to drain from the slide. Alternativelly, pour the urine over the slide's agar surfaces and allow excess urine to drain from the slide.
8. Empty the container completely.
9. Screw the cap/slide back into emptied container. Bring the Uricult test to the Polyclinic Breyer for processing.

Using a sterile container (can be purchased in a pharmacy store)

1. Prepare bathroom and plan ahead, so that the entire procedure can be done without interruptions.
2. Unscrew the sterile container and place the cover on a clean surface, inner side up. Be careful not to touch/contaminate inner surfaces of either the cover or the container!
3. Make sure the container is within the reach for urine collection.
4. Thoroughly wash the urogenital region with soap and water. Rinse thorouhly and do not dry.
5. Spread/keep apart and/or hold skin/mucosal foldings to assure DIRECT urine flow.
6. Start urinating so that the first stream of urine goes OUTSIDE the container (washes off urethral flora). Then continue urinating INTO the prepared container (midstream flow).
7. Screw the container's cover back tightly.
8. Bring the specimen within 2 hours to the Polyclinic Breyer for processing.