Collection, Transport & Preservation of Urine Specimens from the Collection Site to the Testing Laboratory
UriSponge® is Copan’s FDA-cleared, innovative device for urine specimen collection, transport, and preservation, designed to enhance workflow efficiency, reduce safety risks, and maintain specimen integrity.
Using a boric acid-free preservative, UriSponge® ensures the stability of urine specimens for up to 48 hours at room or refrigerated temperatures. The dip-and-close design simplifies collection, reduces handling errors, and integrates seamlessly with both manual and automated laboratory workflows.
UriSponge® is commonly used for:
Routine Urine Cultures
Uropathogenic Bacteria and Yeast Cultures
General Urine Preservation for Diagnostics
UriSponge® is ideal for many clinical and laboratory applications, including:
Urine Cultures
Bacteriology Assays
General Urine Specimen Collection for Diagnostics
Newly formulated UriSponge® received FDA clearance in October 2024, and will be available through Copan’s U.S. distribution network in early 2025.
The device automatically maintains the optimal urine-to-preservative ratio, eliminating the need for precise filling and reducing specimen rejection rates.
UriSponge® preserves urine samples for up to 48 hours at room temperature or refrigerated, offering flexibility in transport and storage without the risk of bacterial overgrowth or sample degradation.
Reduces expenses and waste by eliminating additional consumables and simplifying collection with a quick dip-and-close method—no need for transfer devices or mixing.
UriSponge® integrates smoothly with Copan’s WASP® Walk-Away Specimen Processor and other laboratory automation systems, supporting high-throughput workflows and minimal manual intervention.
UriSponge® enhances the urine specimen collection process by making it simple, efficient, and accurate. With a dip-and-close method, the device ensures consistent specimen volumes without the need for exact filling lines, reducing errors. Laboratories benefit from fewer handling issues, streamlined workflows, and reduced specimen rejection rates, all of which contribute to better diagnostic accuracy.
UriSponge® preserves urine samples for up to 48 hours at both room temperature and refrigerated conditions. The ability to maintain the viability of uropathogenic bacteria and yeast across this time frame allows laboratories greater flexibility in processing samples, helping to ensure reliable results even when immediate processing isn’t feasible and minimizing the need for refrigerated transport.
UriSponge® simplifies the entire urine collection process. By removing the need for precise fill lines and eliminating consumables like suction needles and transfer straws, UriSponge® accelerates the collection and transport process.
UriSponge® is optimized for laboratory automation systems, including Copan’s WASP® Walk-Away Specimen Processor. Its standardized, compact tube design is ideal for automated planting, streaking, and Gram stain preparation, enabling high-throughput processing with minimal manual intervention.
UriSponge® can reduce operational costs by eliminating the need for additional consumables such as suction needles, transfer straws, and hazardous sharps waste. By reducing both material costs and the frequency of sample rejections due to inaccurate fill, UriSponge® contributes to savings for laboratories, helping them optimize resource use without compromising on diagnostic quality.
Copan specializes in working with partners in assay manufacturing, microbiome research, at-home collection kit developers, and more to create customized swabs and kits, including filling tubes with custom reagents. Contact us today to speak to a knowledgeable Copan team member.
