- Test Name:
- Urine culture, straight catheter (in/out) (Edmonton/Central/North)
- Organism(s)/Disease(s):
-
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Body Source(s):
-
Catheter - straight (in/out)
-
Clinical Prerequisite(s):
-
Provision of relevant clinical information is important to ensure a clinically relevant result
- For patient >5 years
- State specimen source - Specify: In/Out catheter urine
- State current/proposed antibiotic therapy and start date
- Provide relevant clinical history. State symptoms, signs, and risk factors for UTI
- Provide any antimicrobial allergies
Straight (In/Out) catheter urine samples are useful when midstream urine cannot be obtained for culture, or when results from midstream urine are equivocal and a diagnosis is required. A sterile, flexible catheter is inserted ASEPTICALLY through the urethra into the bladder by a healthcare worker.
Intermittent catheterization also involves inserting a catheter through the urethra into the bladder but differs from the Straight (In/Out) technique in being done CLEAN rather than ASEPTICALLY. It is performed by patients who are unable to void normally, e.g. spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis patients. It is done through periodic self catheterization to empty the bladder.
The diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is CLINICAL, based on symptoms and signs, NOT laboratory testing. Urine should be sent for culture only AFTER there is a strong clinical suspicion of UTI to find the causative bacterium and its antibiotic susceptibilities.The role of urine culture is to guide the selection of antibiotic therapy
Urine MUST be collected BEFORE starting antibiotics
- Collection Device/Tube Type:
-
BD Vacutainer (blue-top) urine culture collection cup
BD Vacutainer (grey-top) preservation tube
- Collection Instructions:
-
For hospitals, continuing care facilities, and home collection by healthcare workers:
1.
2.
Clean patient’s urethral opening (and Vaginal vestibule in females) with soap and water
3.
Wash your hands well with soap and water. Dry well. Wear sterile gloves
4.
Use sterile technique, pass a catheter into the bladder
5.
Discard initial 15-30 ml of urine
6.
Collect next 30 ml into BD Vacutainer cup (blue top). Close lid
7.
Transfer urine into grey top tube immediately
8.
Submit grey-top tube only. Dispose of blue transfer device according to your facility's policy
For home collections by patient/caregiver:- Collect specimen using appropriate instructions
- Place in sterile orange-top container
- Refrigerate specimen if not being delivered directly to the lab after collection
- Specimen should be delivered to any outpatient laboratory or APL Patient Service Center within 2 hours
- Handling/Storage Comments:
-
Urine submitted in GREY-TOP tubes can be stored and transported at room temperature
Delivery to the laboratory as soon as possible (within 2 hours) to expedite the result and the initiation of therapy
- Rejection Criteria:
-
- Mislabelled or unlabelled specimen/requisition
- More than 1 specimen/collection method/day
- Pooled 24-hour urine collection
- Leaking container
- Underfilled or overfilled grey-top preservative tubes
- Expired preservative tubes
- Urinalysis tubes
- Foley catheter tips
- Unpreserved urine specimen (not in preservative tube)
- Turnaround Times
- See Microbiology Information»
- Comments:
-
Contact Microbiologist on Call for any concerns regarding culture results
Phone: 780-451-3702
Toll free: 1-800-661-9876 - Last Reviewed:
- 04 November 2021
