Lab 1 Specimen Collection

Question 1

What are some factors that may affect the accuracy of specimens obtained for culture and sensitivity?

Answer 1

1. Specimen contamination
2. Delay in sending specimen to laboratory
3. Obtaining specimen with inappropriate container and culture media
4. Incorrectly identified or mislabeled specimen (lack of two patient identifiers)
5. No identification of source of specimen
6. Not reporting any antibiotics or other medications that patient is taking that may impact specimen analysis

Question 2

What is a reason that wound culture is taken?

Answer 2

Identify type of organism and potentially infectious agent of wound drainage and determine appropriate treatment/interventions based on culture result

Question 3

What’s a reason for nose/np culture?

Answer 3

Identify type of organism or viral agent such as RSV or long term care patients for presence of MRSA.

Question 4

What is a reason for throat culture?

Answer 4

Identify type of organism and determine appropriate treatment

Question 5

What’s a reason for body cavity and fluid culture?

Answer 5

Symptoms and signs of inflammation and infection

Question 6

What’s a reason for Urinanalysis?

Answer 6

Check kidney and endocrine function, presence of urinary tract infection, urinary pH, color, specific gravity, test for presence of ketones, protein, glucose, and presence of red cell casts which may indicate infection or inflammatory conditions, presence of white blood cells may indicate infection

Question 7

What’s a reason for stool culture?

Answer 7

Check for bacterial, fungal, parasitic infections, ova & parasites

Question 8

Describe the procedure used to obtain a 24 hour urine collection.

Answer 8

Instruct patient to empty bladder and discard that urine, note time and then collect all urine and place in designated collection bottle for the next 24 hours. The collection ends by asking patient to empty bladder and places this urine in the container at the end of the 24 hour period. Note time and post on patient bathroom door, at bedside, above toilet, and in eRecord.

Question 9

What is the difference between a random and midstream/clean catch urine specimens?

Answer 9

Random urine sample utilized when sterile urine is not required; midstream or clean catch urine when a relatively microorganism free specimen is needed