Non-Blood Specimen Collection Flashcards
6 cards from real PCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Non-Blood Specimen Collection flashcards as text
When collecting a midstream clean-catch urine specimen, the patient should:
Answer: Begin urinating into the toilet, then catch the middle portion in the container
The midstream clean-catch method avoids contaminants from the initial urine stream, providing a specimen that accurately represents bladder urine.
A 24-hour urine collection requires the patient to:
Answer: Discard the first void, then save all urine for the next 24 hours
The first void is discarded to start timing, then every subsequent void is saved for exactly 24 hours to measure total daily output of specific substances.
A stool specimen for occult blood testing should be collected:
Answer: From the center of the stool using the collection device provided
Collecting from the center of the stool avoids surface contamination and toilet water contact, providing the most accurate sample for occult blood detection.
When labeling a specimen, which information is ALWAYS required?
Answer: The patient's name, date of birth, date and time of collection, and collector's initials
Proper specimen labeling with patient identifiers, collection time, and collector information prevents misidentification and ensures accurate test results.
A sputum specimen should ideally be collected:
Answer: First thing in the morning before eating or drinking
Early morning collection before oral intake yields the most concentrated specimen with secretions that accumulated overnight in the respiratory tract.
What is the correct action if a urine specimen cannot be transported to the lab within 30 minutes?
Answer: Refrigerate the specimen until transport is available
Refrigeration slows bacterial growth and chemical changes that can alter test results when immediate transport is not possible.