NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is instructing a patient on how to collect a clean-catch midstream urine specimen. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?
- ACleanse the genital area from back to front.
- BBegin voiding into the toilet, then collect the middle portion.
- CCollect the first voided urine of the morning.
- DFill the specimen cup completely to prevent contamination.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Begin voiding into the toilet, then collect the middle portion.
The clean-catch midstream method involves voiding the initial urine into the toilet to flush out contaminants, then collecting the middle portion of the urine stream. This minimizes contamination from the urethra and external genitalia.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Cleansing should always be done from front to back to avoid introducing bacteria from the anal area.
- C. While often preferred for concentration, the first void is not necessarily 'clean-catch' unless midstream protocol is followed.
- D. Overfilling can lead to spillage and contamination; the cup should be filled to a specified level, not completely.
Clean-Catch Midstream Urine
A method of urine collection designed to obtain a specimen free from contamination by external genitalia, used primarily for urine cultures.
- Requires thorough cleansing.
- Initial urine flushes contaminants.
- Middle portion is collected.
Memory trick: Clean, start, catch, finish: the midstream urine wish.