need clean catch urine specimen

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this is for my elderly mother. she cannot stand long but the nephrologist keeps asking her to get clean catch urine specimens. we go through alot when she needs one. she worries that she cannot do it, when she does it gets all over her hand when she holds sterile specimen under her. she won't let me hold the bottle. it gets all over her clothes, floor, it is so hard. how can i make this more easier for both of us. thank you.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm a nephrology APN and I would ask if they suspect an infection. If not, ask if they have a speci-pan that she could urinate into and then poured it into a urine container. Most likely at a nephrologist's office, they are looking for blood, protein, etc., not necessarily for s/s of infection.

Best wishes.

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thank you. these are urine tests for her nephrologist. i don't know if they are checking for infection. they are checking her kidney levels via blood and urine tests. we did this 3 months ago., too. my mom is so upset every time we have to get a specimen.... i asked the lab about my problem, and they couldn't help me. i asked for a hat and they stated they could become contaminated and you wouldn't get a sterile specimen. i'm wondering if there is a sterile hat or something. i had to clean her commode and around it smell of urine and got on her clothes at home. we didn't get much. finally, at the lab, i went into bathroom with her and we got one. it was messy all over my hand. please help. thank you

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Why are they checking for infection at the nephrologist's office? Seems kinda weird - most likely checking for protein/blood. I would ask the nephrologist.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Use hemostats pinched to the lip of the specimen cup. Pt can usually hold the clamps down below to pee into the cup.

Gives a few extra inches when trying to hold the cup down there is the problem.

How much volume is needed? I think I remember that only 10 - 12 ml are needed at max.

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

I have used this trick for my doggie, it might work for a human. I have an old soup ladle that I slip under her just as she starts to urinate. Then I transfer the urine to a specimen cup.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I have used this trick for my doggie, it might work for a human. I have an old soup ladle that I slip under her just as she starts to urinate. Then I transfer the urine to a specimen cup.

Hey! I like this idea even better than the hemostats! If you boil water and then dip the ladle in, you've sterilized it. Very neat idea! Just keep that old soup ladle under the BR sink and out of general use.

TY!

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It's bad practice but I wouldn't fret too much about how clean or sterile the specimen is, it doesn't really make that much of a difference to the test. Put a paper pan in the toilet and use that.

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