Final answer:
To collect a sterile urine sample for a culture to test for urine infection, one must use aseptic technique, clean the genital area, collect midstream urine in a sterile container, and cap it immediately for transport to the laboratory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Collection of a Sterile Urine Sample
To collect a sterile urine sample, which is necessary for a culture to exclude urine infection, proper aseptic technique is essential. This process involves carefully cleaning the genital area to reduce contamination from the skin and surrounding area, then collecting a midstream urine sample into a sterile container. If the culture is to be used to test for susceptibility to antibiotics, it's important that the sample is not contaminated, as this could affect the results and the subsequent treatment plan.
For the collection, the patient is usually asked to urinate a small amount into the toilet to flush away any organisms at the opening of the urethra, then stop and position the container to catch the midstream urine. This 'midstream' sample is considered to be the most sterile portion of the urine. The container should be capped immediately to maintain sterility and transported to the laboratory for analysis or urine infection testing as soon as possible.