Lab comparison
Urine culture: Quest vs LabCorp vs BioReference, tube, code & requirements
. This page shows collection requirements for all three major reference labs in one view, so you don’t have to cross-check three portals.
Always verify against your lab’s current collection manual before drawing.
Every value on this page is verified by a nurse practitioner in active clinical practice, not scraped from an automated source.
| Requirement | Quest Diagnostics | LabCorp | BioReference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test code | 395 | 008847 | 0080-2 |
| Primary tube | gray-top urine transport tube or UriSponge™ transport | Vacutainer® gray-top urine culture transport tube with preservative | Urine Tube - Grey Top |
| Specimen type | 4 mL random, clean catch, midstream urine collection in gray-top urine transport tube or UriSponge™ transport | Urine | 5-10 mL Urine Tube - Grey Top |
| Patient prep | Patient should be instructed on the proper collection of a clean catch midstream urine specimen. Avoid contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum or vagina. If a clean catch urine cannot be obtained from an infant, obtain a bagged specimen: clean area as for a clean catch, attach U-bag, and put collected urine into a sterile container. Clean catch specimen: Have patient urinate into a small clean disposable cup (styrofoam or "Dixie"). Afterward, collection site staff can transfer the urine to the urine culture transport tube using the special collection straw-puncture device designed for use with the Vacutainer® tubes. The numbers of bacteria in a clean unused cup are so few as to be inconsequential when the urine transport stabilizer is added. Thoroughly instruct patient for proper collection of a "clean catch" specimen. Patient must be instructed to thoroughly cleanse skin and collect a midstream specimen. The patient should be instructed to follow the directions provided with the urine collection kit. Catheterized specimen: Refers to an "in and out" catheter that is placed into the bladder solely for collection of the specimen and then withdrawn. Do not collect urine from the drainage bag when an indwelling catheter is in place because growth of bacteria can occur in the bag itself. Rather, clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with a sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe. Catheter tips are contaminated by the urethra as they are withdrawn; do not culture them. Male and Female instructions provided. | Patient should be instructed on the proper collection of a clean catch midstream urine specimen. Avoid contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum or vagina. If a clean catch urine cannot be obtained from an infant, obtain a bagged specimen: clean area as for a clean catch, attach U-bag, and put collected urine into a sterile container. Clean catch specimen: Have patient urinate into a small clean disposable cup (styrofoam or "Dixie"). Afterward, collection site staff can transfer the urine to the urine culture transport tube using the special collection straw-puncture device designed for use with the Vacutainer® tubes. The numbers of bacteria in a clean unused cup are so few as to be inconsequential when the urine transport stabilizer is added. Thoroughly instruct patient for proper collection of a "clean catch" specimen. Patient must be instructed to thoroughly cleanse skin and collect a midstream specimen. The patient should be instructed to follow the directions provided with the urine collection kit. Catheterized specimen: Refers to an "in and out" catheter that is placed into the bladder solely for collection of the specimen and then withdrawn. Do not collect urine from the drainage bag when an indwelling catheter is in place because growth of bacteria can occur in the bag itself. Rather, clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with a sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe. Catheter tips are contaminated by the urethra as they are withdrawn; do not culture them. Male and Female instructions provided. | Patient should be instructed on the proper collection of a clean catch midstream urine specimen. Avoid contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum or vagina. If a clean catch urine cannot be obtained from an infant, obtain a bagged specimen: clean area as for a clean catch, attach U-bag, and put collected urine into a sterile container. Clean catch specimen: Have patient urinate into a small clean disposable cup (styrofoam or "Dixie"). Afterward, collection site staff can transfer the urine to the urine culture transport tube using the special collection straw-puncture device designed for use with the Vacutainer® tubes. The numbers of bacteria in a clean unused cup are so few as to be inconsequential when the urine transport stabilizer is added. Thoroughly instruct patient for proper collection of a "clean catch" specimen. Patient must be instructed to thoroughly cleanse skin and collect a midstream specimen. The patient should be instructed to follow the directions provided with the urine collection kit. Catheterized specimen: Refers to an "in and out" catheter that is placed into the bladder solely for collection of the specimen and then withdrawn. Do not collect urine from the drainage bag when an indwelling catheter is in place because growth of bacteria can occur in the bag itself. Rather, clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with a sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe. Catheter tips are contaminated by the urethra as they are withdrawn; do not culture them. Male and Female instructions provided. |
| Minimum volume | Minimum Volume Preserved: gray-top transport must be filled to minimum line printed on tube • Completely saturated UriSponge transport • Unpreserved: 0.5 mL urine | Volume To minimum fill line (4 mL) on Vacutainer® gray-top urine culture transport tube with preservative (preferred) | Container Qty / Collection Instructions 5-10 ml |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Quest Diagnostics order code for Urine culture?
The Quest Diagnostics order code for Urine culture is 395.
What tube color does LabCorp use for Urine culture?
LabCorp uses a Vacutainer® gray-top urine culture transport tube with preservative for Urine culture.
Does Urine culture require fasting?
Urine culture patient prep: Patient should be instructed on the proper collection of a clean catch midstream urine specimen. Avoid contamination with normal flora from skin, rectum or vagina. If a clean catch urine cannot be obtained from an infant, obtain a bagged specimen: clean area as for a clean catch, attach U-bag, and put collected urine into a sterile container. Clean catch specimen: Have patient urinate into a small clean disposable cup (styrofoam or "Dixie"). Afterward, collection site staff can transfer the urine to the urine culture transport tube using the special collection straw-puncture device designed for use with the Vacutainer® tubes. The numbers of bacteria in a clean unused cup are so few as to be inconsequential when the urine transport stabilizer is added. Thoroughly instruct patient for proper collection of a "clean catch" specimen. Patient must be instructed to thoroughly cleanse skin and collect a midstream specimen. The patient should be instructed to follow the directions provided with the urine collection kit. Catheterized specimen: Refers to an "in and out" catheter that is placed into the bladder solely for collection of the specimen and then withdrawn. Do not collect urine from the drainage bag when an indwelling catheter is in place because growth of bacteria can occur in the bag itself. Rather, clean catheter with an alcohol sponge, puncture with a sterile needle, and collect in sterile syringe. Catheter tips are contaminated by the urethra as they are withdrawn; do not culture them. Male and Female instructions provided.. Always confirm with the ordering lab before the draw.
Data provenance
Source: Quest Diagnostics specimen collection manual, LabCorp directory of services, and BioReference laboratory collection guide.
Verified by: a licensed nurse practitioner in active clinical practice. Values are reviewed against each lab’s published collection requirements. Always confirm against your lab’s current manual before drawing.
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