What is a suprapubic tap?

A suprapubic tap is a method for urine sample collection that involves the insertion of a needle through the abdominal wall into the bladder. This technique is typically used when a clean, sterile urine sample is needed, particularly when traditional methods of collection are not feasible, such as in infants or individuals who cannot void urine naturally due to medical conditions.

The suprapubic tap is beneficial because it minimizes contamination from the urethra and surrounding areas, providing accurate results for laboratory testing. The procedure is performed with sterile technique to reduce the risk of infection and is guided by ultrasound in many cases to ensure proper needle placement.

Other techniques mentioned, such as those for kidney biopsy, blood type testing, and minor surgical procedures, serve different purposes within the medical field and do not relate directly to the specific objective of collecting a urine sample in the manner that a suprapubic tap does.