Cystitis Research Center

- Information For Sending A Specimen To The CRC For The First Time -

Patient must be free of antibiotic medication or a drug like Tylenol and must refrain from intercourse for at least 48 hours.
The urethral passageway from the bladder must be cleansed of contaminants by an intermittant voiding procedure, the urethral flush. On the first morning void, momentarily release the stream, quickly reduce the flow, release, and again reduce, in quick succession, as many times as you can.
During the next 3 hours, do not have a bowel movement, drink only a minimum amount of water, and hold the urine as much as possible. Obtain a sterile specimen vial from the hospital lab, a pharmacy or doctor's office. Otherwise one can obtain a small plastic bottle with a tight lid (baby aspirin container), sterilize it with a 1:4 dilution of bleach for 15 minutes. Rinse it thoroughly with boiled water. Place the container on a tissue with the open end down. Do not touch the rim of the container or cap. Shower or thoroughly cleanse the areas around the urinary exit with a washcloth, soap and water. Blot off with fresh clean tissue. At no time should your hands touch any part of the urinary exit.
For a "clean catch" of the urine, spill a small amount into the bowl first. Do not stop the stream but, while still flowing, present the open container to collect a small amount (1/2 oz.) direct from the urethral exit. The stream must not wash over the adjacent skin surfaces. Do not stop the stream while collecting the specimen. Withdraw the container and carefully replace its cap.
To mail to the CRC include the following information:
Name and address, age, weight, and a brief history of your symptoms. Describe whether you have been diagnosed with IC/Prostatitis. Include a check made out to the CRC in the amount of $30. Package well with padding around the container and send by Fed Ex, Priority or Express US mail. (If you are mailing from overseas please purchase a bank check in US funds in the amount of $30.)

The $30 covers the cost of materials for processing the specimen and mailing the results to you, along with a container for sending a follow-up specimen. If you also wish to have the results faxed to you please add $3 and include your fax number.

Note: You may always call Dr. Fugazzotto at (605) 942-8989 if you have questions or if you would prefer to have him mail you a container and instructions. The above is provided for new patients who wish to send a specimen for the first time and will enable them to send this without waiting for him to mail instructions and container. This will save the patient waiting time and save Dr. Fugazzotto the time and expense required to send the packet.