EQUIPMENT
Urine specimen container, sterile
Washcloths, cotton balls, or softnets
Antiseptic solution or soap
Sterile water
Bedpan or urinal if child on bedrest
Gloves, nonsterile

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SPECIMEN
COLLECTION

1. Check physician’s order. Ensures appropriate specimen

obtained from the correct child.

2. Check child for allergies to any materials used, e.g.,

povidone-iodine.

3. Prepare child and family. Enhances cooperation/partici-

pation; reduces anxiety/fear.

NOTE: Have an assistant hold/comfort the child as nec-
essary and in accordance with agency policy.

4. Gather equipment. Promotes organization and effi-

ciency.

5. Wash hands. Don gloves. Reduces transmission of

microorganisms.

PROCEDURE

1. Steps 1–5 of General Guidelines.
2. Moisten half of washcloths, cotton balls, or softnets with

soap solution and half with water.

3. Put on nonsterile gloves. Protects from contact with

body fluids.

4. Cleanse area.

a. Male.

1. Wipe tip of penis in circular motion downward

toward shaft. Wipe only once with each cloth or
cotton ball. Repeat until comes away clean. If
uncircumcised, retract foreskin before cleansing.
Retract only if it retracts easily and replace fore-
skin after cleansing. Maintains asepsis by cleaning
from least to most contaminated area.

2. Repeat process using water to rinse away all soap.

Removes soap or antiseptic solution, which could
contaminate the specimen.

b. Female.

1. Spread the labia major with one hand and wipe

from front to back once with each cloth or cotton
ball. Repeat until comes away clean. Maintains
asepsis by cleaning from least contaminated to
most contaminated area.

2. Repeat process with water to rinse away all soap.

Removes soap or antiseptic solution, which could
contaminate the specimen.

NOTE: Older children can clean themselves. They
should be instructed to wash their hands and then
clean in manner as described above.

5. Have child start to void into a receptacle (e.g., bedpan,

hat); after a few drops, stop flow, then urinate into ster-
ile container. Collect enough urine for a specimen,
approximately 30–50 cc.

6. Allow child to finish voiding in receptacle.
7. Label specimen and place in appropriate bag or con-

tainer along with laboratory requisition slip. Ensures
specimen is properly identified and correct test is per-
formed.

8. Remove gloves. Wash hands. Reduces transmission of

microorganisms.

9. Send specimen to lab.

DOCUMENTATION FOR SPECIMEN
COLLECTION

1. Time specimen collected.
2. Amount of urine collected.
3. Color of urine.
4. Type of test to be performed.
5. Condition of skin of perineal area.

OBTAINING A CATHETERIZED
URINE SPECIMEN

See Skill 29, Urinary Catheterization.

37

Copyright © 2007 by Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.

SKILL 13

SKILL 13

Collection of a Midstream, Clean Catch Urine
Specimen on Older Child