CHAPTER XIII. 
The col¬ 
lection 
of speci¬ 
mens 
THE TECHNIQUE OF PREPARATIONS FOR AND THE 
COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FOR BACTERIO¬ 
LOGICAL EXAMINATION. 
It is not strictly a part of the nurse’s work to 
collect specimens for bacteriological examination, but 
sometimes the occasion arises when the nurse can 
render valuable assistance by knowing how to do' these 
things. On the other hand the preparation of the 
patient for bacteriological procedures, such as punc¬ 
tures for aspirating fluids and the making of cultures 
from the circulating blood, is quite properly within the 
duties of the nurse. The directions that follow will 
serve as ■ a guide, but may need to be modified or 
changed according to the ideas of the physician in 
attendance. 
The Collection of Urine. 
A sterile test-tube plugged with cotton is used to 
collect the urine, and the urine must be obtained by 
catheter. The usual technique is followed in preparing 
the patient, the catheter introduced, and the first part 
of the urine allowed to escape. The cotton plug is 
now twisted out of the tube, the mouth of the: tube 
passed through the flame of an alcohol lamp, and the 
urine allowed to fill the tube one-half or three-fourths 
full. The stopper is then replaced and the tube kept 
in the upright position. 
(134) 
