1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. incontinence

4. Pass the remaining part of the urine
stream into the urinal, toilet or
bedpan/bottle.
After the procedure
1. The Mid-Stream Urine Sample in the
sterile pot can then be transferred into
a urine container containing Boric
Acid. The container does not need to
be filled to the top; a mark on the
bottle will indicate the ideal amount of
urine. However, if it is difficult, any
amount is better than none
2. The pot should be labelled correctly
with name, date of birth, date and time
of sample taken and unique
identification number e.g. hospital or
NHS number
What problems can occur
with the results?
The results can come back contaminated
and need to be repeated. A contaminated
urine sample is where the urine sample
cannot be analysed due to it being mixed
or contaminated with bacteria other than
from the bladder. Likely causes from the
sample being contamination are from the
urethra, not cleansing properly or using
an unsterile sample container. Therefore,
please follow the instructions within this
leaflet to avoid a contaminated result.
3. The sample should be placed in the
plastic specimen bag
4. The sample should be taken to the
surgery/laboratory within two hours or
refrigerated at 4oC. The sooner it is
given in to the doctor’s surgery or lab,
the more accurate the analysis will be.
When will a MSSU result be
available?
The results of your MSSU test should be
with your medical doctor or GP within
three days.
GHPI1185_11_12
Author: Urology
Review due: November 2015
www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk
Collection of
Mid-Stream
Sample of Urine (MSSU)
for Adults
BETTER
BETTER FOR
FOR YOU
YOU
This leaflet will provide information for an
adult to perform an accurate MSSU,
required for a standard laboratory test.
Equipment needed to
perform an MSSU
What is a MSSU?
• Sterile pot
A MSSU is the middle part of your urine
stream passed in a single urination which
is required for laboratory analysis.
• Dry wipes
What is being tested?
The urine is being tested. Urine is a
waste product produced in the kidneys
and collected in the bladder until it is
expelled out of the body. The urine
should be free from micro-organisms.
However, if bacteria or yeast are
introduced into the urinary tract, they can
multiply and cause a urinary tract
infection (UTI).
Why is a mid-stream urine
sample needed?
A sample of urine is required to find out
which if any micro organisms are present.
If an infection is identified, appropriate
antibiotic treatment can be prescribed.
When can a sample of urine
be taken?
It is best to collect a sample of urine
when the bladder is full. A strong urine
flow is more effective in clearing bacteria
from the urethra (the tube which urine is
passed out through the body) reducing
contamination results.
• Bedpan
• Urine container with Boric Acid (this is
a preservative – do not swallow)
• Laboratory request form
• Plastic specimen bag.
How to obtain a MSSU for
laboratory testing
The urine sample should be collected in a
clean, sterile container completely free
from detergents (it should not be
collected in a pulp bed pan or any other
container made from pulp as this can
distort the reading leading to a false
positive result).
The first quantity of urine that is passed
may be contaminated with bacteria from
the skin. Urine is normally sterile (no
bacteria present).
Cleansing is advised to minimize
organisms contaminating the sample.
Ensure hands are clean by washing with
soap and water before the procedure.
Do not open the sterile container/bottle
until ready to collect the urine sample as
this can contaminate the sample.
Instructions for Women:
1. Clean around the labia (entrance to
the vagina) using a dry wipe which
has been dampened with tap water wipe downwards from front to back of
the vagina area using a separate wipe
each time
2. It is advised to hold open the labia
(entrance to the vagina) and pass
some urine into the toilet
approximately 15mls to 30mls. Then
without stopping the flow of urine,
pass urine into the sterile pot (this pot
is supplied by the nurse or doctor).
Some women might find this difficult;
placing a sterile pot inside a bed pan
can help to collect a sample
3. Once the pot is near full, finish
emptying the rest of the urine into the
toilet.
Instructions for Men:
1. Retract foreskin and clean the skin
using a dry wipe which has been
dampened with tap water
2. Pass the first part of the stream of
urine (approx 15 to 30mls) into a
urinal, toilet or bedpan/bottle
3. Place the sterile container into the
urine stream without interrupting the
flow collecting the mid stream part of
the urine