Collecting a clean urine sample for those assigned female at birth (2016)

Key points below


Why does my child need to collect a clean urine sample?

Your child’s doctor has asked for this sample. Everyone has bacteria on their skin.  It is important to keep skin bacteria from getting into the urine.  If skin bacteria gets into the urine, the test results will not be accurate. 

How do I collect the urine?

Gather the supplies:

When your child feels ready to urinate (pee), follow these steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

2. Take the cap off the collection cup. Do not touch the inside of the cap. Put the cap on a clean paper towel or surface. The inside of the cap should be facing up.  

3. Have your child sit on the toilet.  Some children find it easier to sit backwards on the toilet.  

4. Spread the labia apart to clean child's skin.

5. Ask your child to start to pee. 

6. Let some pee go into the toilet.  Then place the cup under the child to catch some of it.  Do not let the cup touch your child's skin.

7. Screw lid back on cup.

8. Wash your hands with soap and water.

9. If you are at the lab, give the specimen to the staff person or leave it in the holding area (if there is one.) 

10. If you are at home, put the cup into a plastic bag and write your child’s name and the date and time on it. Put it in the refrigerator.  Bring it to the lab within 8 hours.

11. If you are not able to collect the urine, tell the lab staff.  Your child’s doctor may ask that the specimen be collected a different way.

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.