Specimen Requirements

1. Disinfect skin around catheter with iodine before removing catheter.

2. Using aseptic technique, clip off a 1 to 2 inch distal segment of catheter.

3. Place catheter tip in a screw-capped, sterile container. (Specimen in non-sterile container, specimen not received within 30 minutes of collection, specimen collected using non-sterile technique, or Foley catheter is not acceptable.)

4. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Collect before start of antibiotic therapy whenever possible.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.