The head of a man’s penis or opening of a woman’s urethra is cleansed, usually with a small pad that contains an antiseptic substance. Uncircumcised men should retract their foreskin to cleanse the head of the penis.

The first few drops of urine are allowed to flow into the toilet, washing out the urethra.

Urination is resumed, and a sample is collected from the stream into a sterile cup. Usually the sample is obtained before the stream ends (midstream).