A clean catch is a method of collecting a urine sample to be tested. The clean-catch urine method is used to prevent germs from the penis or vagin* from getting into a urine sample.
How the Test is Performed
If possible, collect the sample when urine has been in your bladder for 2 to 3 hours.
You will use a special kit to collect the urine. It will most likely have a cup with a lid and wipes.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
GIRLS AND WOMEN
Girls and women need to wash the area between the vagin* "lips" (labia). You may be given a special clean-catch kit that contains sterile wipes.
- Sit on the toilet with your legs spread apart. Use two fingers to spread open your labia.
- Use the first wipe to clean the inner folds of the labia. Wipe from the front to the back.
- Use a second wipe to clean over the opening where urine comes out (urethra), just above the opening of the vagin*.
To collect the urine sample:
- Keeping your labia spread open, urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, then stop the flow of urine.
- Hold the urine cup a few inches (or a few centimeters) from the urethra and urinate until the cup is about half full.
- You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
BOYS AND MEN
Clean the head of the penis with a sterile wipe. If you are not circumcised, you will need to pull back (retract) the foreskin first.
- Urinate a small amount into the toilet bowl, and then stop the flow of urine.
- Then collect a sample of urine into the clean or sterile cup, until it is half full.
- You may finish urinating into the toilet bowl.
INFANTS
You will be given a special bag to collect the urine. It will be a plastic bag with a sticky strip on one end, made to fit over your baby's genital area.
If the collection is being taken from an infant, you may need extra collection bags.
Wash the area well with soap and water, and dry. Open and place the bag on your infant.
- For boys, the entire penis can be placed in the bag.
- For girls, place the bag over the labia.
You can put on a diaper over the bag.
Check the baby often and remove the bag after the urine collects in it. Active infants may displace the bag, so you may need to make more than one attempt. Drain the urine into the container you were given and return it to the health care provider as directed.
AFTER COLLECTING THE SAMPLE
Screw the lid tightly on the cup. Do not touch the inside of the cup or the lid.
- Return the sample to the provider.
- If you are at home, place the cup in a plastic bag and put the bag in the refrigerator until you take it to the lab or your provider's office.
Urine culture - clean catch; Urinalysis - clean catch; Clean catch urine specimen; Urine collection - clean catch; UTI - clean catch; Urinary tract infection - clean catch; Cystitis - clean catch
Castle EP, Wolter CE, Woods ME. Evaluation of the urologic patient: testing and imaging. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 2.
Germann CA. Urologic disorders. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 85.
Nicolle LE, Drekonja D. Approach to the patient with urinary tract infection. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 268.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
FAQs
A clean catch urine sample or specimen is one of the least invasive procedures for a urine culture or urinalysis. The clean catch method aims to prevent bacteria from the skin of the penis or vagin* from contaminating the urine specimen.
What is clean catch urine in medical terms? ›
A clean catch urine sample or specimen is one of the least invasive procedures for a urine culture or urinalysis. The clean catch method aims to prevent bacteria from the skin of the penis or vagin* from contaminating the urine specimen.
What is a 24 hour clean catch urine specimen? ›
A 24-hour urine collection is a simple lab test that measures what's in your urine. The test is used to check kidney function. A 24-hour urine collection is done by collecting your urine in a special container over a full 24-hour period. The container must be kept cool until the urine is returned to the lab.
What is the most common reason a provider may order a clean catch urine specimen? ›
To diagnose a medical condition.
A urinalysis might be requested if you have abdominal pain, back pain, frequent or painful urination, blood in your urine, or other urinary problems. A urinalysis can help diagnose the cause of these signs and symptoms.
How to clean urine for a medical test? ›
Men or boys should wipe clean the head of the penis. Women or girls need to wash the area between the lips of the vagin* with soapy water and rinse well. A small amount of urine should initially fall into the toilet bowl before it is collected (this clears the urethra of contaminants).
Which of the following best describes a clean catch urine specimen? ›
A clean catch urine sample means to aim to only capture 'uncontaminated' urine.
How long is a clean catch urine good for? ›
Place the container of urine in a resealable plastic bag. Give the container to a health care provider or, if collected at home, bring the specimen to a Laboratory Service Center within 30 minutes after collection.
What is the most common mistake in the 24-hour urine collection? ›
Common errors that may affect the results of the test may include: Forgetting to collect all urine within the 24-hour period. Taking urine samples beyond the 24-hour period.
What foods to avoid before 24 hour urine test? ›
Patient must have diet free of avocados, bananas, tomatoes, plums, eggplant, hickory nuts, walnuts, pineapple and mollusks for 2 days prior to and during the collection. If advised by a physician, the patient should be off all drugs for 3 days. Restrict caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for 24 hours prior to collection.
What happens if you miss one pee in the 24 hour urine test? ›
All urine, after the first flushed specimen, must be saved, stored, and kept cold. This means keeping it either on ice or in a refrigerator for the next 24 hours. Try to urinate again at the same time, 24 hours after the start time, to finish the collection process. If you can't urinate at this time, it is OK.
Leukocytes in the urine without nitrite
If the test for leukocyte esterase is positive but finds no nitrite, an infection may still be present. The test is particular to certain bacterial enzymes, which means it can pick up specific bacterial infections with more certainty.
What cancers can be detected in urine? ›
Bladder cancer is perhaps the most obvious cancer to find in urine, but evidence suggests that remnants of other cancers – like kidney, prostate and cervical cancer – can also get into pee.
Can you have a UTI but no bacteria in urine? ›
Sterile pyuria, in contrast, is a type of pyuria in which no bacteria are present in the urine. This could be due to a medical condition, non-detected bacteria, or another germ, such as a virus. Sterile pyuria is a common condition affecting 2.6% of men and 13.9% of women.
What does clean urine indicate? ›
Clear pee generally means that you're well hydrated. But it's possible to hydrate too much, and this can cause some health risks. So, it's best to stay within the range of the recommended daily amount of water intake.
What does it mean to have clean urine? ›
Clear urine may indicate proper hydration, but also can be a sign that a person is drinking too much fluid. People with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, may drink and pee more than usual.
What wipes are used for clean catch urine? ›
1 urine cup. 1 Castile soap wipe. 3 benzalkonium chloride (BZK) cleansing wipes.
