CH 6 Specimen Collection and Processing

Which kind of containers should be used for specimen collection?

STERILE containers

For specimen collection, what kind of swabs are used?

Dacron or calcium alginate swabs

Which collection type from a LESION/ABSCESS would provide the best sample?

ASPIRATED material

Material goes directly into a STERILE tube

What kind of pattern should be followed when swabbing a wound/lesion, abscess?

ZIG ZAG

What is the best method and time to collect urine specimens?

CLEAN CATCH METHOD

With the FIRST MORNING urine

What are the two ways in which patients can provide a SPUTUM sample

1. Deep COUGH into a sterile container

2. Aerosol solution that induces coughing

For stool bacterial cultures, what is the rule?

1 specimen A DAY for 3 days

For stool parasite screening, what is the rule?

THREE specimens over 10 DAYS

When collecting a sample that involves penetrating the skin or collecting from the skin, what should be done first?

Must DISINFECT the area with alcohol

Which 3 things MUST be written on labels by the individual who collected it?

1. Culture site

2. Date of collection

3. Time of collection

How long after collection should specimens be transported?

Within 30 minutes to 2 hours of collection

What is used as a preservative for URINE?

Boric Acid - will preserve BACTERIA

What is used as a preservative for STOOL?

Cary-Blair TRANSPORT media - maintain viability during transport

What is used for Swab Transport?

Stuart/Amies

Which is the MOST COMMONLY used Blood sample anticoagulant?

Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)

Which blood sample anticoagulant is used for VIRAL CULTURES and Mycobacterium from blood?

HEPARIN

Which Blood coagulants are NOT used since they KILL BACTERIA

EDTA

Citrate

What do we call when we take blood from a syringe and transfer it directly into blood culture bottles?

DIRECT Inoculation

Which specimens will have the HIGHEST PRIORITY?

1. Amniotic fluid

2. blood

3. CSF

4. Brain

How would urine from a urinary catheter be collected?

From the Catheter SAMPLING PORT with aseptic technique

What indicates contamination in a sputum sample?

SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL CELLS

we should only be seeing neutrophils etc.

What should be done BEFORE discarding a specimen?

1. Call for recollection

2. Document possibility of compromised results

RECOLLECTION NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE