Use of Laboratory and Specimens (U3) Flashcards
Laboratory functions?
Diagnostic and epidemiological
What does a diagnostic test do?
Detection of pathological agent, guidelines for treatment
What does an epidemiological test do?
Info provided can be used to compliment clinical info (follows trends)
What are the different specimen collection types?
Urine, enteric (stools), sputum, swab, biopsies/sterile fluids, and culture and sensitivity
What are the types of urinary tract collections?
Midstream urine, in and out catheter urine, indwelling catheter
What is an enteric collection?
Stools, culture
What is melena?
Black, tarry stools (coffee ground), caused by bleeding in the GI tract
What are two types of specimens in enteric collection?
O and P (ova and parasite)
What are the ways that blood in the enteric collection can look like?
Red and black (melena)
How are enteric specimens examined when fresh?
Macro/microscopically
What are the types of respiratory tract specimens?
Sputum (spit), induced sputum, tracheal aspirate
What is trachael aspirate?
Suction tube (spit)
Swab test is used for?
Throat, wounds
What are the specimens for biopsies and sterile fluids?
Tissues, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, CSF (lumbar puncture, spinal fluid)
Culture definition?
Find out what pathogen is causing illness/infection
Sensitivity definition?
Checks to see what antibiotics will work best to treat the infection
Results of a culture and sensitivity test?
Microscopy usually available within 1-2 hours, may take overnight to several weeks for some (ex. TB) but most within 48h
- Susceptility results usually require further overnight incubation
How is a C&S done?
With a swab, lab technician spreads sample of infective material onto a plate with sugar (nutrient substance) to grow
What are the three ways to read sensitivity?
Sensitive, intermediate, resistant
What is a sensitive sensitivity?
Clear, circular halo (plaque), the abx type that can be used
- Absence of pathogen
What is intermediate sensitivity?
Cloudy plaque, parts of pathogenic population are sensitive to abx but some are genetically immune
What is resistant sensitivity?
Pathogen grows normally even in the presence of abx
What is on a requisition? (not on the test)
- Patient name and demographics, HC #
- Date and time of collection
- Meds currently taken and last dose
- Pertinent history (relavent history)
- Test requested
- Type of test sample (swab, urine etc)
- Dr name and collector
What is on a label? (not on the test)
- Patient name and HC #
- Source of collection (ex. location: swav L leg wound, L tonsil)
- Date and time of collection
- Initials of collector/mneomic (CADO, DODA)
