A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Urine Culture

Test Code
CXURN


Alias/See Also
Epic: LAB239


Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Urine
Collection Container: Grey top urine C&S preservative tube
Specimen Volume: 5 mL




Minimum Volume

4 mL
(Fill line on grey top urine transport container)




Instructions
  • Clean Catch: Clean genitals with towelette, collect midstream urine
  • Indwelling Catheter: Collect from sampling port of a newly inserted device
  • In and Out Catheter: Clean area, using sterile technique, collect and discard an initial 15-30 ml of urine. Collect a sample from the mid- or later flow of urine into a sterile container.
  1. Collect urine into sterile collection container and then transfer urine to a Grey Top urine transport tube

For BD VACUTAINER URINE COMPLETE CUP KIT (follow product insert)

  1. Collect urine into the blue capped cup.
  2. To transfer specimen, place cup on a clean, flat surface.
  3. Peel back label on cap to expose the integrated transfer device.
  4. Place evacuated tube into cavity on cap, stopper down. Advance the tube over the puncture point to pierce stopper.
  5. Hold tube in position until filled.
  6. Remove tube from integrated transfer device.
  7. Mix 8-10 times by inversion.
  8. Apply patient identification label.
  9. Submit Grey Top tube to the laboratory


Specimen Stability
Grey top urine C&S preservative tube

Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Unpreserved Urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 24 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable




Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Urine must be refrigerated or placed in a Urine Transport Media tube within 30 minutes of collection, urine collected from catheter bags is unacceptable. Urine in sterile container received at room temperature is unacceptable.


Methodology
Quantitative (reported in CFU/ml) aerobic bacterial and yeast culture


Setup Schedule
Daily


Report Available

Initial report available at one day after receipt in the laboratory, final report depends on the extent of organism workup




Reference Range
Negative for Pathogens


Clinical Significance
Aerobic culture of urine specimens for detection of bacteria and yeast

Isolation of a pathogen may indicate an infectious cause of symptoms. Three or more species of bacteria isolated in a urine specimen usually indicates skin or fecal contamination at the time of collection and the laboratory report will suggest recollection.


Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031




Last Updated: April 6, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, April 6, 2023


The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.