What are the steps for midstream urine specimen collection?

The correct steps for midstream urine specimen collection involve cleansing the genital area first, initiating the urine stream, and then collecting the sample midstream. This method minimizes contamination from the skin and surrounding area, which can interfere with the test results.

Cleansing the genital area reduces the risk of bacteria and other substances from outside the urinary tract entering the sample, ensuring that the specimen reflects the condition of the urine itself rather than external contaminants. Starting to urinate before collecting the sample allows the first part of the urine, which may contain these contaminants, to be expelled. By collecting urine after the initial stream has begun, only the midstream portion is gathered, providing a more accurate representation of the patient’s urinary health for diagnostic purposes.

The other options do not follow this standard procedure and would compromise the integrity of the sample, which is crucial in medical testing.