Specimen Collection and Handling

Types of Specimen Collection

• Invasive: involves breaking the skin or entering a body cavity, e.g. blood draws, biopsies, surgical procedures
• Non-invasive: does not break the skin or enter a body cavity, e.g. urine, stool, saliva, mouth swabs

Importance of Proper Specimen Collection

• Ensures accurate test results
• Prevents contamination and false positives/negatives
• Maintains patient safety and comfort
• Reduces risk of infection transmission

Pre-Collection Considerations

• Patient preparation: fasting, hydration, medication restrictions
• Collection timing: scheduling, timing of collection relative to medication administration, meals, etc.
• Equipment and supplies: selection of appropriate materials, e.g. needles, tubes, swabs

Specimen Collection Techniques

• Venipuncture: blood collection from a vein
• Capillary puncture: blood collection from a capillary (e.g. fingerstick)
• Urine collection: midstream, clean-catch, or catheterized collection
• Swab collection: nasal, oral, vaginal, or wound swabs

Post-Collection Considerations

• Labeling and identification: accurate labeling and tracking of specimens
• Transportation and storage: proper handling, storage, and transportation of specimens
• Chain of custody: documentation of specimen handling and transfer

Quality Control and Assurance

• Quality control measures: monitoring and assessment of specimen quality
• Quality assurance protocols: verification of specimen collection and handling procedures

Types of Specimen Collection

• Invasive specimen collection involves breaking the skin or entering a body cavity, including blood draws, biopsies, and surgical procedures.
• Non-invasive specimen collection does not break the skin or enter a body cavity, including urine, stool, saliva, and mouth swabs.

Importance of Proper Specimen Collection

• Accurate test results rely on proper specimen collection to prevent contamination and false positives/negatives.
• Proper specimen collection maintains patient safety and comfort, reducing the risk of infection transmission.

Pre-Collection Considerations

Patient Preparation

• Fasting may be required before specimen collection.
• Hydration is important before collecting certain specimens.
• Medication restrictions may apply before specimen collection.

Collection Timing

• Collection timing is critical, considering factors like medication administration and meals.

Equipment and Supplies

• Appropriate equipment and supplies, such as needles, tubes, and swabs, must be selected for specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Techniques

Blood Collection

• Venipuncture involves collecting blood from a vein.
• Capillary puncture involves collecting blood from a capillary, often via fingerstick.

Urine Collection

• Midstream urine collection involves collecting urine mid-stream to minimize contamination.
• Clean-catch urine collection involves cleaning the genital area before collecting urine.
• Catheterized urine collection involves using a catheter to collect urine.

Swab Collection

• Nasal swabs are used to collect specimens from the nasal cavity.
• Oral swabs are used to collect specimens from the mouth.
• Vaginal swabs are used to collect specimens from the vagina.
• Wound swabs are used to collect specimens from wounds.

Post-Collection Considerations

Labeling and Identification

• Specimens must be accurately labeled and tracked to ensure correct identification.

Transportation and Storage

• Specimens must be handled, stored, and transported properly to prevent damage or contamination.

Chain of Custody

• Documentation of specimen handling and transfer is essential to maintain the chain of custody.

Quality Control and Assurance

Quality Control Measures

• Quality control measures monitor and assess specimen quality to ensure accuracy.

Quality Assurance Protocols

• Quality assurance protocols verify specimen collection and handling procedures to ensure consistency.