Chapter 42: Specimen Collection and Processing (FLASHCARDS)

Cancer is detected in the sputum specimen through the use of this stain:

Papanicolaou

The introduction of a sterile plastic tube into the bladder is called:

catheterization

Present in urine samples that have increased numbers of microorganisms, namely bacteria:

nitrites

Precipitates albumin in a measurable visual state for reporting purposes. Is the confirmatory test for a reagent testing positive for protein:

sulfosalicylic acid test

Type of specimen indicated for diagnostic analysis when a patient has an unresolved cough with mucus production:

sputum specimen

The presence of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the urine is called:

hematuria

Condition in which large amounts of very dilute urine are excreted by the body:

diabetes insipidus

Measures the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood or urine

pregnancy test

Another term for drainage:

exudate

Enzyme released by white blood cells when significant numbers of these cells are present in a fluid

esterase

Once signed, this form releases you to collect a patient’s urine specimen for substance abuse testing, prepare it for transport to a testing facility, and release the results to the agency requesting the testing

chain of custody form

Indicates that the fat has been broken down and metabolized in the digestive tract

ketonuria

Condition that occurs when the glucose level in the blood is greater than what the nephrons can reabsorb, causing the glucose to “spill over” into the urine

glycosuria

Normal by-product of hemoglobin degradation that occurs in the intestines by normal intestinal flora

urobilinogen

Used to isolate gonorrhea from vaginal or penile excretions

Thayer-Martin plate

Agar that discourages the growth of certain organisms

selective media

Stain used when a patient is suspected of having tuberculosis

acid-fast stain

The crystal violet stain that is applied first when using the staining technique is called the:

primary stain

Media that encourages the growth of all microorganisms:

primary media

Red stain used as the counter stain in the staining technique is called:

safranin

Which type of organism, commonly found in the intestinal tract, is a frequent cause of urinary tract infections due to improper wiping of the anus?

Gram-negative

Specialized test, performed only in a microbiology lab, that identifies the most appropriate antibiotic to be used as well as the lowest dose that is effective in combating an infection

minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test

The ethanol or acetone used with the staining technique:

decolorizer

Sea-green media used in culturing for tuberculosis

Lowenstein-Jensen medium

Which type of organism causes whooping cough?

Gram-negative

What is the name of the bacteria that causes whooping cough?

Bordetella pertussis

Which type of organism causes tetanus (lock jaw)?

Gram-positive

What is the name of the bacteria that causes tetanus?

Clostridium tetani

Which type of organism causes leprosy?

Gram-variable

What is the name of the bacteria that causes leprosy?

Mycobacterium leprae

Which type of organism causes meningitis?

Gram-negative

What is the name of the bacteria that causes meningitis?

Neisseria meningitidis

Which type of organism causes anthrax?

Gram-positive

What is the name of the bacteria that causes anthrax?

Bacillus anthracis

Which type of organism causes tuberculosis

Gram-variable

What is the name of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

If a urine specimen cannot be tested within an hour, it must be:

refrigerated

For a midstream clean-catch specimen, patients should be instructed to cleanse the genital area _____ using an antiseptic wipe.

from front to back in a single motion

When collecting a specimen for substance abuse analysis the ____ of a urine specimen is immediately checked for following collection and is recorded with the patient observing you.

temperature

If you notice that a urine specimen has a very strong ammonia-like smell, it probably indicates that the patient has:

a urinary tract infection

Specific gravity is defined as the weight of substances dissolved in a specimen as compared with those found in:

distilled water

What color is bilirubin?

yellow to orange

A urine sample from a patient with hepatitis will have a ____ foam if shaken.

green

When using the Ictotest, if the mat shows a _____ color, the urine sample contains bilirubin.

bluish to purple

Urine specimens that have a high number of bacteria will have a characteristic smell of:

ammonia

During microscopic examination of a urine sample, bacteria and epithelial cells may be quantified as:

few

What is the normal value of mucus in a urine sample?

slight

Occult blood specimens from stools are common screening tools for early detection of:

colon cancer

It is recommended that a patient collect ____ specimen(s) for occult blood specimen testing.

at least three

When collecting a throat swab from a patient for the rapid test or routine culture, you swab:

only the peritonsillar area

When performing Gram staining, if the microorganisms on the slide are identified as Gram positive, they will appear:

dark blue to violet

A brown color when describing urine is usually associated with:

old blood

Generally a sufficient amount of urine for testing would fill a _______ test tube with enough left over to wet the chemical test strip and be used for culture if ordered.

10 mL

When documenting in the patient’s chart and on the log books, the initials _________ would be used in the case of not having enough urine to perform the ordered testing, unless otherwise specified per laboratory protocol.

“QNS” (quantity not sufficient)

Analyzing health care results as reported in _________ and _________ also be a part of your duties. Each practice will have their own protocols on how to handle and distribute lab reports to the providers.

graphs and tables

Identify CLIA-waived test(s) associated with the purpose of detecting pH, glucose, ketones, blood, bilirubin, urobilinogen, leukocytes, and specific gravity.

urinalysis

True or False: A clean-catch urine sample should be collected after the patient has cleansed the genital area with soap and water.

False

True or False: The first morning urine specimen is typically preferred for pregnancy tests because it contains the highest concentration of hCG.

True

True or False: Fecal occult blood tests should be done only once to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

False

True or False: A throat swab for Group A Streptococcus testing should only be collected from the tonsillar area.

True

True or False: A 24-hour urine collection is often used to measure kidney function by analyzing the total volume of urine produced over the course of a day.

True

True or False: If a urine specimen for culture is not processed within one hour, it should be refrigerated to prevent bacterial overgrowth.

True

True or False: When collecting a specimen for a throat culture, it is acceptable to touch the tongue or cheek with the swab as long as it is later properly labeled.

False

True or False: A clean-catch midstream urine sample is the best choice for a routine urinalysis because it reduces the likelihood of contamination.

True

True or False: Urine collected for a drug test should be handled according to chain of custody procedures to ensure the sample is not tampered with.

True

True or False: The presence of mucus in a urine sample is considered abnormal and should be reported immediately.

False

True or False: When performing a Gram stain, Gram-positive organisms will appear violet under the microscope after staining.

True

True or False: A sputum specimen for culture should be collected after a patient has gargled with mouthwash to ensure cleanliness.

False

True or False: Specimens for microscopic examination should be collected using sterile containers to avoid contamination.

True

True or False: A stool specimen for ova and parasites should be collected in a clean, dry container, without the use of toilet paper.

True

True or False: The normal value for mucus in a urine specimen is considered slight, and it may appear as a clear, slimy substance.

True

True or False: If a patient is unable to provide a urine sample on their own, the healthcare provider may insert a catheter to collect a specimen for testing

True

True or False: The most common method for collecting a urine specimen for a pregnancy test is by using a first morning urine sample, which is most concentrated.

True

True or False: To avoid contamination during the collection of a throat culture, the swab should only come into contact with the patient's tonsils or the back of the throat.

True

The process of obtaining a sample of body fluids or tissues for diagnostic testing is called _______.

specimen collection

A _______ is a container used to collect urine samples, often provided to patients for home collection.

urine collection cup

The time frame in which a specimen must be processed to avoid degradation or inaccurate results is referred to as the ________ time.

turnaround

For accurate urine specimen analysis, the preferred method is a ________ collection, which eliminates contamination from the urethra.

clean-catch

________ specimens, such as blood or urine, are typically collected and processed in the medical office for immediate results.

in-office

To ensure the accuracy of microbiological cultures, specimens should be collected using _________ techniques to avoid contamination.

aseptic

_________ is the practice of ensuring proper labeling and documentation of specimens to avoid misidentification or mishandling during urine drug screening.

chain of custody

A _______ specimen is often used for drug screening and must be carefully monitored for tampering during collection.

urine

If a patient is suspected of having a urinary tract infection (UTI), the physician may request a __________ urine sample.

clean catch

Specimens that must be kept at a specific temperature, such as certain blood tests, are usually stored in a _________.

refrigerator

The term _________ refers to the preservation of a specimen in a way that maintains its original properties until analysis can be performed.

preservation

A _________ test requires a specific fasting period before the blood specimen is collected.

fasting blood glucose

The __________ is the section of a medical laboratory that processes blood and body fluid samples for tests like cholesterol, glucose, and hormones.

chemistry department

A __________ sample is required for the detection of infectious agents in the respiratory system, such as in cases of pneumonia.

sputum

When obtaining a specimen for a sputum culture, the patient is instructed to cough up material from the _________ of the lungs.

bronchi

When collecting a stool sample for occult blood testing, the patient is asked to avoid eating ______ or consuming certain medications that could interfere with the test results.

red meat

The ________ test requires the collection of a 24-hour urine specimen to analyze for abnormalities such as protein or glucose.

24-hour urine protein

When processing specimens, laboratory personnel must ensure that specimens are not _________, as this can result in inaccurate test results due to cell degradation.

hemolyzed