Question

A PCT has an order to collect a specimen for a urine culture. Which of the following methods of collection should the PCT use?

A) Midstream clean-catch
B) Random voiding
C) 24-hour collection
D) Catheterization

Answer 1

The appropriate method for a PCT to collect a urine specimen for a culture is the Midstream clean-catch technique, which helps to minimize contamination and provides a more accurate sample for testing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a PCT has an order to collect a specimen for a urine culture, the correct method of collection to use is Midstream clean-catch. This technique minimizes contamination from the normal microbiota of the external genitalia. The process involves the patient cleansing the urethral area and then starting to urinate, stopping momentarily, and then resuming urination into the collection container. This method ensures that the urine sample is not contaminated by the initial stream of urine, which may contain bacteria from the external parts of the urethra. Other methods such as random voiding, 24-hour collection, or catheterization are not typically used for sterile urine cultures unless specifically indicated for different diagnostic purposes.