Specimen Collection and Testing PDF

## Specimen Collection and Testing ### Diagnostic Testing #### Pretest Assessment - Proper setup for the test. - Ensure accurate results. - Example: Before a glucose tolerance test, patients are instructed to fast at least 8 hours. #### Intra-test - Covers the actual test procedure....

## Specimen Collection and Testing ### Diagnostic Testing #### Pretest Assessment - Proper setup for the test. - Ensure accurate results. - Example: Before a glucose tolerance test, patients are instructed to fast at least 8 hours. #### Intra-test - Covers the actual test procedure. - Example: During a capillary blood glucose test, the nurse pricks the side of the patient’s finger and collects a sample without contamination. #### Post-test - The tests that are conducted after the procedure. - Ensures accurate results. - Example: After a throat swab, the nurse updates the patient's chart, labels the sample, and ensures an immediate lab report. ### Measure Capillary Blood Glucose - To measure current blood glucose levels. #### Responsibility - Skills. #### Purpose - Monitor blood glucose levels. - Promote blood glucose regulation. - Evaluate insulin effectiveness. #### Assessment 1. Determine testing needs. - Frequency and type of blood glucose testing required. 2. Assess clients understanding. - Ensure they know the procedure. 3. Review past responses and client's reactions. 4. Inspect puncture site. - Ensure skin integrity and proper circulation. 5. Check medication history. 6. Evaluate self-care abilities. #### Equipment - Glucometer - 2X2 gauze - Blood glucose reagent strip - Warm cloth - Antiseptic swab - Disposable gloves - Sterile lancet - Lancet injector #### Implementation 1. Clean the puncture site with antiseptic wipe. 2. Allow the site to air dry completely. 3. Use the lateral aspect (side) of the fingertip to avoid contamination. 4. Place the injector against the side, prick the side gently. 5. Squeeze a drop of blood onto the reagent strip. The glucose meter will display the glucose reading. #### Evaluation - Compare readings with normal levels and previous result. - Result display -Post-test Procedure - Documentation - Insulin administration - Reporting follow-up ### Specimen Collecting and Testing #### Responsibilities - Ensure patient privacy and safety. - Practicing correct collection procedures. - Promptly transporting specimens to maintain accuracy. ### Stool Specimen #### Purpose - Detect occult blood, bacteria, and parasites. #### Instruction - Avoid contamination by urine or menstrual discharge. - Collecting stool for suspected parasitic infections involves ensuring clean collection and prompt delivery for analysis. ### Urine Specimen #### Purpose - To detect microbial presence and identification. - Antibiotic susceptibility testing. #### Assessment - Determine the client's ability to provide the specimen. - Assess the urine color, odor, and consistency. - Check for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). - Frequency - Hematuria (blood in urine) - Urgency - Flank pain - Dysuria (painful urination) - Cloudy urine with foul odor #### Planning - UAP can collect clean catch/midstream urine collection. - Nurses must instruct UAP on proper specimen collection. - Emphasize urethral cleansing to avoid contamination. #### Equipment - Clean gloves - Antiseptics - Sterile specimen container - Urine receptacle - Basin of warm water, soap, wash cloth, towel. - Specimen identification label #### Implementation 1. Gather necessary equipment. 2. Verify client identification and explain the procedure. 3. Perform hand hygiene and infection control. 4. Provide instructions and assist the client to the bathroom. - For female: Clean perineal area with soap, water and antiseptic towelettes. - For male: Retract foreskin and clean urinary meatus if needed. 5. Collect midstream urine specimen. 6. Label the specimen and transport it to the laboratory. #### Evaluation - Share lab results with primary care provider. - Discuss findings with both the primary care provider and the client. - Perform follow-up interventions, including: - Administering prescribed medications. - Providing client education. ### Timed Urine Specimen #### Purpose 1. Assess kidney function 2. Determine glucose metabolism disorder for diabetic patients. 3. Measure specific constituents. 4. Provide clean receptacle to collect urine. 5. Record the specimen collection. #### Period - 1-2 hours to 24 hours. #### Obtain Specimen Container - Obtain the specimen container. #### Start of Collecting Period - Start of the designated collecting period. #### End of Collecting Period - End of the designated collecting period. ### Urine Testing - Test include measuring specific gravity, pH, glucose, and ketones using reagent strips. #### Principle 1. Dip the specimen reagent strip into urine for 1 second. 2. Remove excess urine by tapping the strip against the container rim. 3. Wait 30 seconds. 4. Compare the strip’s color. 5. Ignore color change after 30 seconds. ### Sputum Specimens #### Purpose - Culture and Sensitivity - Cytology #### Explanation - Culture and Sensitivity: Identify specific microorganisms and their drug sensitivities. - Cytology: Identify cell structure, function, and pathology. #### Acid-Fast Bacillus (AFB) - Requires three consecutive, early-morning specimen collections. - Detect lung cancer. - Identify tuberculosis (TB). #### Effectiveness of Therapy - Assess the effect of given treatment. ### Responsibility #### Explanation - Mouth care: Ensure specimen is not contaminated with microorganisms. - Sputum collection: Ask client to breath deeply and cough up 4-10mL of sputum. #### Safety - Wear gloves and PPE if TB is suspected. #### Container Hygiene - Ensure sputum does not contact outside the container. #### Post-Collection Care - Offer mouthwash after sputum collection. #### Specimen Handling - Label and transport the specimen immediately to the laboratory. #### Documentation - Record on the client chart: - Amount - Consistency - Hemoptysis - Odor - Color of the sputum ### Throat Culture - Collect sample from the mucosa of oropharynx and tonsillar region. - Use culture swab for collection. ### Guidelines for Specimen Collection #### Best Time - Optimal time: - Ex: Early morning for AFB culture. #### Appropriate Devices - Use sterile, leak-proof specimen container. #### Check Expiration Dates - Ensure collection devices not expired before use. #### Complete Forms - Fill the test request form fully and label the specimen properly. #### Timely Delivery - Maintain suitable time between specimen collection & delivery to the lab. ### Ensure Appropriate Collection of Sample - Make sure the selected supplies are suitable for collection. ### The Roles of Nurses in Specimen Collection - Precise sample identification. - Patient interaction. - Timely transfer of specimen to the lab. ### Common Specimen Collections #### Throat Swab Culture - Bacterial infection in throat. - Diagnose fungal infection. - Sample mucus with a cotton-tipped applicator. - Common infections: - Pneumonia - Whooping cough - Tonsillitis #### Sputum Specimen Culture - Analyze expelled material from respiratory passages. - 2-3 days for adequate specimen collection. - Detect pathogens. #### Stool Specimen & Culture - Grow organism from feces to identify disease-causing bacteria, ova (egg), amoeba, worms. #### Urine Specimen Culture - Urinalysis involves: - Physical examination of urine. - Chemical microscopic examination. - Test various compounds in urine. - Evaluate health status through color, density, and odor.