CLINICAL GUIDELINE FOR URINE SAMPLE COLLECTION
FROM INFANTS AND CHILDREN USING URINE COLLECTION
PAD.
1. Aim/Purpose of this Guideline
1.1. To provide clear guidance on best practice in obtaining a urine sample
from infants and children.
2. The Guidance
THESE GUIDELINES MUST ONLY BE USED FOLLOWING FAILED
CLEAN CATCH ATTEMPTS.
•
Please note clean catch is recognised best practice for urine collection in infants
and children as outlined by NICE Clinical Guidelines 54 in 2007.
Please refer to PROCEDURE FOR CLEAN CATCH URINE COLLECTION FROM
INFANTS AND CHILDREN FOR MICROBIOLOGY SAMPLE prior to using these
guidelines.
•
•
•
•
If a clean catch sample is unobtainable:
Other non-invasive methods such as urine collection pads should be used. It is
important to follow the manufacturers’ instructions when using urine collection pads.
Cotton wool balls, gauze and sanitary towels should NOT be used in infants and
children.
When it is not possible or practicable to collect urine by non-invasive methods,
catheter samples or suprapubic aspiration (SPA) should be used.
Before SPA is attempted, ultrasound guidance should be used to demonstrate the
presence of urine in the bladder.
NICE clinical guidance 54.2007
2.1 ACTION
1. Explain procedure to parents and child as relevant, and obtain informed
consent.
2. Wash child’s genital area with lukewarm water. Dry front to back. To avoid
other organisms contaminating the sample do not apply any creams, talc
or antiseptics.
Clinical Guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using urine collection pad.
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3. To avoid the nappy absorbing the urine: Stick the pad on the plastic side
(inside out) of the disposable nappy, put nappy on the baby. Use both
pads provided if child is older.
4. To ensure accuracy of the catch ensure pad is positioned over the urethral
meatus/penis area.
5. Check every 10 minutes, to see if the child has wet the pad. If the child has
soiled the pad you must start the procedure again. This is essential to
minimise sample contamination.
6. As soon as the pad is wet remove it from the nappy.
7. Lay the pad down wet side up on an appropriate clean surface.
8. Take 5ml syringe, place tip on the pad and pull the plunger up, extracting
the urine. Repeat aspiration several times, until required amount of urine is
obtained.
9. Place urine into universal sterile container provided by PHLS. Do not use
container provided in pad pack as it is prone to leaking in the hospital pod
system. Clearly mark sample ‘PAD SAMPLE’. Send to relevant
laboratory.
10.
Discard waste appropriately.
11. Document in patient’s notes/care profile sample collected include
method obtained and Date and Time in compliance with RCHT trust
standards for documentation and sample collection.
PLEASE NOTE:
•
•
Urine collection bags may still be used where large amounts of urine are required
for other non microbiology investigations.
Urine samples must not be collected when a patient has confirmed diarrhea unless
specifically requested. This can lead to contamination of the sample.
Clinical Guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using urine collection pad.
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3. Monitoring compliance and effectiveness
Element to be
monitored
Lead
Correct use of urine collection pads.
Tool
Frequency
Reporting
arrangements
Acting on
recommendations
and Lead(s)
Change in
practice and
lessons to be
shared
Audit.
Annually.
Lead nurse and ward managers. Departmental audit and guidelines
group.
Lead nurse and ward managers. Departmental audit and guidelines
group.
W ard mangers and auditors.
Possible wording to use for this column.
Required changes to practice will be identified and actioned within6
months. A lead member of the team will be identified to take each
change forward where appropriate. Lessons will be shared with all
the relevant stakeholders
4. Equality and Diversity
4.1. This document complies with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
service Equality and Diversity statement.
4.2. Equality Impact Assessment
The Initial Equality Impact Assessment Screening Form is at Appendix 2.
Clinical Guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using urine collection pad.
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Appendix 1. Governance Information
Document Title
Clinical guideline for urine sample collection
from infants and children using urine
collection pad.
Date Issued/Approved:
22 nd March 2013
Date Valid From:
22 nd March 2013
Date Valid To:
22 nd March 2016
Directorate / Department responsible
(author/owner):
Tabitha Fergus- Child Health
Contact details:
01872252008
Brief summary of contents
Clear guidance and directions on best
practice for urine collection from infants and
children and how to obtain a sample using a
collection pad.
Paediatrics
Urine collection
Sample
Child
Infant
RCHT

Suggested Keywords:
Target Audience
PCT
CFT
Executive Director responsible for
Policy:
Frances Keane
Date revised:
March 2013
This document replaces (exact title of
previous version):
Urine pad collection in infants.
Approval route (names of
committees)/consultation:
Paediatric consultants
Senior nursing staff
Child health audit and guidelines group
Practice development group
Divisional Manager confirming
approval processes
Sheena W allace
Name and Post Title of additional
signatories
Not Required
Signature of Executive Director giving
approval
Publication Location (refer to Policy
on Policies – Approvals and
Ratification):
Document Library Folder/Sub Folder
{Original Copy Signed}
Internet & Intranet
Paediatrics/neonatal
Clinical Guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using urine collection pad.
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 Intranet Only
Links to key external standards
NICE Clinical Guidelines 54. Urinary Tract
Infection in Children. August 2007.
Urine Pad Collection In Infants. Original
guidelines. Zoe Baker and PDD. March 2004.
Nursing Times. Urine Collection in infants and
children. Feb 2008.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS. Clean Catch Urine
Collection.
Related Documents:
No –no change in practice since original
document.
Training Need Identified?
Version Control Table
Date
Versio
n No
March 2004 V1.0
Summary of Changes
Changes Made by
(Name and Job Title)
Initial Issue
Zoe McClean
Feb 11
V2.0
Update and re format.
Tabitha FergusDeputy ward manager
March
2013
V3.0
Update and re format.
Tabitha FergusDeputy ward manager
All or part of this document can be released under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000
This document is to be retained for 10 years from the date of expiry.
This document is only valid on the day of printing
Controlled Document
This document has been created following the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Policy on Document Production. It should not be altered in any way without the
express permission of the author or their Line Manager.
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Appendix 2.Initial Equality Impact Assessment Screening Form
Name of service, strategy, policy or project (hereafter referred to as policy) to be
assessed: Clinical guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using
urine collection pad.
Directorate and service area: child health Is this a new or existing Procedure? existing
Name of individual completing
Telephone:01872252008
assessment: T. Fergus
1. Policy Aim*
Clear and best practice guidelines on urine collection from
infants and children.
2. Policy Objectives*
To provide clear and best practice guidelines on urine
collection from infants and children.
3. Policy – intended
Outcomes*
Best practice throughout the department.
5.
How will you
measure the outcome?
audit
5. Who is intended to
benefit from the Policy?
Service users and health care professionals
6a. Is consultation
required with the
workforce, equality
groups, local interest
groups etc. around this
policy?
Yes
b. If yes, have these
groups been consulted?
Yes
c. Please list any groups Paeds consultants, senior staff nurses, practice
who have been consulted development, audit and guidelines group.
about this procedure.
*Please see Glossary
7. The Impact
Please complete the following table using ticks. You should refer to the EA guidance notes
for areas of possible impact and also the Glossary if needed.
•
•
•
Where you think that the policy could have a positive impact on any of the equality
group(s) like promoting equality and equal opportunities or improving relations
within equality groups, tick the ‘Positive impact’ box.
Where you think that the policy could have a negative impact on any of the equality
group(s) i.e. it could disadvantage them, tick the ‘Negative impact’ box.
Where you think that the policy has no impact on any of the equality group(s) listed
below i.e. it has no effect currently on equality groups, tick the ‘No impact’ box.
Clinical Guideline for urine sample collection from infants and children using urine collection pad.
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Equality
Group
Age
Positive
Impact
x
Negative
Impact
No
Impact
Reasons for decision
Child health policy
Disability
x
Religion or
belief
x
Gender
x
Transgender
x
Pregnancy/
Maternity
Race
x
Sexual
Orientation
x
Marriage / Civil
Partnership
x
x
You will need to continue to a full Equality Impact Assessment if the following have
been highlighted:
• A negative impact and
• No consultation (this excludes any policies which have been identified as not
requiring consultation).
8. If there is no evidence that the policy
promotes equality, equal opportunities
or improved relations - could it be
adapted so that it does? How?
Full statement of commitment to policy of
equal opportunities is included in the policy
Please sign and date this form.
Keep one copy and send a copy to Matron, Equality, Diversity and Human Rights,
c/o Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Human Resources Department, Chyvean
House, Penventinnie Lane, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3LJ
A summary of the results will be published on the Trust’s web site.
Signed ________________T.fergus________________________
Date __________________14.3.13_______________________
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