Collection, Storage, and Transportation of specimens Flashcards
What is sputum?
Mucus coughed up from lungs
What is the procedure for sputum collection?
- Ensure you are alone
- Gargle with water; rinse mouth
- take deep breaths and then cough
- cough into jar without getting any outside
- close lid tightly
- place jar in fridge (NOT FREEZER) and return within 3 days
What are the ideal veins for venipuncture?
Cephalic, Medial Cubital, Basilic
What does a high CSF pressure indicate? How about a low CSF pressure?
Abnormally high indicates increase in intracranial pressure
Abnormally low indicates tumor, shock, fainting
What are the risks of collection of CSF specimen?
- Infection from needle
- Damage to spinal chord if there’s any movement
- Headaches for long periods of time even after specimen finished being collected
- Spinal bleeding
What are the 3 types of punctures made to collect CSF specimen?
- Lumbar puncture
- Cisternal puncture - below back of skull
- Ventricular puncture - hole drilled in skull; for those with possible brain herniation
What are the various 3 types of Urinalysis carried out?
- Chemical tests; using reagent test strips
- Microscopic examination; when findings from chemical tests are abnormal and confirmation needed
- Urine culture; to detect levels and kind of bacteria
How would you interpret a urinalysis reading a high number of white blood cells?
Presence of inflammation or UTI
What could a urinalysis reading a high number of RBCs mean?
Kidney disease
UTI
Drug reaction
Cancer
What is the normal pH for urine?
4.5 - 8
Name the 2 most common acids used to preserve urine.
Boric acid
Tartaric acid
Name the preservatives used to stabilize urine specimen.
Acids (Boric and Tartaric), Sodium Bicarbonate, and Saccomano’s Fixative or Formalin
Which urine preservative is ideal for examination of microorganisms in urine?
Fixatives like Formalin or Saccomano’s fixative q
How long can preservatives keep urine specimen at room temperature?
24-72 hrs
