Specimen Collection

Question 1

Culture and sensitivity test

Answer 1

Performed to identify if bacteria are present and determine most effective treatment .
Use sterile technique: clean voided midstream or from a urine catheter (sterile).
Can be analyzed for same components as routine.

Question 2

Timed urine specimens for quantitative analysis

Answer 2

Collected over 2-72 hrs. Most common is 24 hrs.
Because elements in urine fluctuate throughout the day.
Allows for quantitative analysis and measurement.
Provides a means to measure the concentration or dilution of urine.

Question 3

Specimens that can be collected by nursing assistants:

Answer 3

Urine specimens:clean, sterile, timed, may urine screen for chemical properties.
Stool for occult blood (patient usually collect the stool)
Gastric secretions for occult blood (can not if collected through NG tube)
Sputum (not suctioned)
Blood by venipuncture by specially trained NAP

Question 4

How long should you clamp urinary catheter to gather urine specimen?

Answer 4

10-15 min

Question 5

How much urine should you collect?

Answer 5

90-120 mL

Question 6

What is the order when cleaning the vagina?

Answer 6

Labia furthest from you, labia closest to you, then down the center (all front to back)

Question 7

Amount of urine to withdraw from catheter for culture:

Answer 7

3 mL

Question 8

Amount of urine to withdraw from catheter for routine analysis:

Answer 8

20 mL

Question 9

Timefame to send urine specimen to lab

Answer 9

20 minutes or refrigerate if delay cannot be avoided.

Question 10

Elements assessed for a urine screening:

Answer 10

Specific gravity
pH
Protein
Glucose
Keystones
Blood
Bilirubin
Urobilinogen
Leukocyte 
Nitrates

Question 11

Hemoccult testing

Answer 11

Screens for the presence of occult blood for different health conditions (p1061)

• do not eat red meat within 3 days (may give false positive)
• do not take vitamin C (may give false negative)

Question 12

What color on guaiac paper indicates positive for blood in stool?

Answer 12

Blue; if no change then the test is negative.

Question 13

Specimen that can be collected for testing:

Answer 13

Urine, stool, gastric secretions, nose and throat specimens, vaginal or urethral discharge, sputum, wound drainage, blood.

Question 14

Gastroccult testing

Answer 14

Analysis of gastric secretion or emesis, to detect blood not always visible.
Helps reveal bleeding in the esophagus or stomach .
Measures blood in gastric secretions-often patients are able to do this at home because the test is so easy.

Question 15

What does gastric contents looks like if blood is present?

Answer 15

Red or black coloration

Or when gastric contents or enosis has the appearance of coffee grounds.

Question 16

Routine urinalysis

Answer 16

Measures 9 or more elements.

Question 17

How to obtain gastric contents:

Answer 17

NG tube, suction or gravity drainage tube.
Use syringe (aspirate 5-10 mL)
Or collect from emesis (may use wooden applicator or 3 ML syringe)

Question 18

How to view results of gastroccult test

Answer 18

Blue means positive for blood

Green means negative for blood.

Question 19

What can not be delegated to NAP?

Answer 19

Obtaining a specimen from nose or throat.
Obtaining vaginal or urethral discharge specimens
Obtaining sputum by auctioning.

Question 20

Reason for collecting a specimen from the nose or throat:

Answer 20

Identify presence and type of microorganism.

Obtain before given antibiotic.

Question 21

What position should patient be in when obtaining a throat or nose culture?

Answer 21

Erect or if too ill at 45 degrees

tilt head backward

Question 22

Positions for obtaining vaginal and urethral discharge

Answer 22

Female: dorsal recumbent
Make: sitting on chair or bed or lying supine.
Sheet over both.

Question 23

Sputum specimen

Answer 23

From cells of the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.
Collect by having patient cough and spit into sterile container or by auctioning into a sputum trap.
Can diagnose from bronchitis to lung cancer.

Question 24

How much sputum should be collected?

Answer 24

5-10 mL (not saliva!)

Question 25

Position of patient for suctioning:

Answer 25

High or semi-fowlers

Question 26

How long should you apply suction for?

Answer 26

5-10 seconds

Question 27

How much sputum should you collect when suctioning?

Answer 27

2-10 mL

Question 28

Obtaining wound drainage specimens

Answer 28

Collect fresh from exudate in center of wound.
Use deprecate techniques to collect specimens for measuring aerobic (on surface) versus anaerobic (deeper) microorganisms.

Question 29

3 methods of obtaining blood specimen:

Answer 29

Venipuncture
Skin puncture (capillary puncture)
Arterial puncture

Question 30

Position for venipuncture

Answer 30

Supine or semi-fowlers

Arms extended to form straight line from shoulders to wrists.