Urine Collection Methods in Children: Which is the Best?

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in infants and young children. There are 5 collection methods commonly used to obtain a urine sample from an infant or small child: suprapubic aspiration, urethral catheterization, clean catch void, urine collection bag, and urine collection pad. Although invasive, suprapubic aspiration and urethral catheterization are less likely to cause contamination of the specimen. When deciding which method to use, providers must take into consideration the clinical presentation of a child as well as presenting and past medical history, while weighing benefits versus risks.