Midstream Urine Collection

Midstream Urine Opener.jpeg

This module describes how to guide a patient in obtaining a clean catch urine sample for investigations.


  1. Urinalysis or bacterial culture sample


  1. Patients who are not mobile

  2. Children before toilet training


How do I explain this procedure to a male?

“I need you to collect some urine in this sample container. Do not touch the inside of the container. Start by washing your hands with soap and water. Use a wet swab to clean the head of your penis and under your foreskin if you are not circumcised. Next, start to pee into the toilet. After a second, put the container under the stream and catch urine until it is halfway full. Remove the container and finish peeing into the toilet. Wash your hands afterwards.”

How do I explain this procedure to a female?

“I need you to collect some urine in this sample container. Do not touch the inside of the container. Start by washing your hands with soap and water. Use a wet swab to clean your private parts. Next, start to pee into the toilet, holding the lips of your vulva open. After a second, put the container under the stream and catch urine until it is halfway full. Remove the container and finish peeing into the toilet. Wash your hands afterwards.”


My patient is unable to produce any urine.

Ask the patient to drink two to three cups of water and sit in the waiting room until they need to urinate.


  1. Poor technique and specimen contamination

  2. Fall risk if patient is unsteady


  1. Gilbert R. Taking a Midstream Specimen of Urine. Nursing Times 2006;102(18).

  2. Olivier N. Urine Specimens. In: Mulder M, Joubert A, Olivier N, eds. Practical Guide for General Nursing Sciences. 2nd ed. Pearson; 2020.