Use of Laboratory and Specimens (U3)

Question 1

Laboratory functions?

Answer 1

Diagnostic and epidemiological

Question 2

What does a diagnostic test do?

Answer 2

Detection of pathological agent, guidelines for treatment

Question 3

What does an epidemiological test do?

Answer 3

Info provided can be used to compliment clinical info (follows trends)

Question 4

What are the different specimen collection types?

Answer 4

Urine, enteric (stools), sputum, swab, biopsies/sterile fluids, and culture and sensitivity

Question 5

What are the types of urinary tract collections?

Answer 5

Midstream urine, in and out catheter urine, indwelling catheter

Question 6

What is an enteric collection?

Answer 6

Stools, culture

Question 7

What is melena?

Answer 7

Black, tarry stools (coffee ground), caused by bleeding in the GI tract

Question 8

What are two types of specimens in enteric collection?

Answer 8

O and P (ova and parasite)

Question 9

What are the ways that blood in the enteric collection can look like?

Answer 9

Red and black (melena)

Question 10

How are enteric specimens examined when fresh?

Answer 10

Macro/microscopically

Question 11

What are the types of respiratory tract specimens?

Answer 11

Sputum (spit), induced sputum, tracheal aspirate

Question 12

What is trachael aspirate?

Answer 12

Suction tube (spit)

Question 13

Swab test is used for?

Answer 13

Throat, wounds

Question 14

What are the specimens for biopsies and sterile fluids?

Answer 14

Tissues, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, CSF (lumbar puncture, spinal fluid)

Question 15

Culture definition?

Answer 15

Find out what pathogen is causing illness/infection

Question 16

Sensitivity definition?

Answer 16

Checks to see what antibiotics will work best to treat the infection

Question 17

Results of a culture and sensitivity test?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How is a C&S done?

Answer 18

With a swab, lab technician spreads sample of infective material onto a plate with sugar (nutrient substance) to grow

Question 19

What are the three ways to read sensitivity?

Answer 19

Sensitive, intermediate, resistant

Question 20

What is a sensitive sensitivity?

Answer 20

Clear, circular halo (plaque), the abx type that can be used
- Absence of pathogen

Question 21

What is intermediate sensitivity?

Answer 21

Cloudy plaque, parts of pathogenic population are sensitive to abx but some are genetically immune

Question 22

What is resistant sensitivity?

Answer 22

Pathogen grows normally even in the presence of abx

Question 23

What is on a requisition? (not on the test)

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

What is on a label? (not on the test)

Answer 24

• 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)