CMA Clinical Procedures and Specimen Handling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When collecting a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity, which collection method is preferred to avoid contamination?
- First-morning void into a regular cup
- Midstream clean-catch into a sterile container (Correct answer)
- Catheter bag drainage
- 24-hour urine collection
Correct answer: Midstream clean-catch into a sterile container
Midstream clean-catch into a sterile container minimizes contamination from periurethral flora.
Question 2: A patient requires a capillary blood glucose test. Which finger site should be avoided?
- Ring finger lateral aspect
- Middle finger lateral aspect
- Index fingertip (Correct answer)
- Little finger lateral aspect
Correct answer: Index fingertip
The fingertip is more sensitive and painful; lateral aspects of fingers are preferred for capillary puncture.
Question 3: Which antiseptic should NOT be used when preparing a site for blood alcohol level collection?
- Povidone-iodine
- Chlorhexidine
- Isopropyl alcohol (Correct answer)
- Benzalkonium chloride
Correct answer: Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol can falsely elevate blood alcohol levels and must be avoided for BAL draws.
Question 4: The correct order of draw for a venipuncture using tubes with additives is:
- EDTA, SST, heparin, citrate
- Blood culture, citrate, SST, EDTA (Correct answer)
- SST, EDTA, citrate, heparin
- Heparin, EDTA, SST, citrate
Correct answer: Blood culture, citrate, SST, EDTA
The correct order is: blood cultures, citrate (blue), SST (gold/red), heparin (green), EDTA (lavender), then others.
Question 5: When performing a wound irrigation, the medical assistant should direct the flow of irrigant:
- From the center outward in circular motion
- From the wound edges toward the center
- From the cleanest area to the most contaminated (Correct answer)
- From the most contaminated area toward the clean area
Correct answer: From the cleanest area to the most contaminated
Irrigation flows from clean to dirty areas to prevent spreading contamination into unaffected tissue.
Question 6: A throat culture swab should be collected from which anatomical location?
- The tongue dorsum
- The tonsillar pillars and posterior pharynx (Correct answer)
- The hard palate
- The inner cheeks
Correct answer: The tonsillar pillars and posterior pharynx
The tonsillar pillars and posterior pharynx are the sites with highest yield for streptococcal pathogens.
Question 7: When preparing a patient for an electrocardiogram (ECG), which action is most important to ensure accurate results?
- Have the patient hold their breath during the tracing
- Ensure the patient remains still and relaxed (Correct answer)
- Apply electrodes over clothing for comfort
- Position the patient seated upright in a chair
Correct answer: Ensure the patient remains still and relaxed
Patient movement and muscle tension cause artifact that distorts the ECG tracing.
CMA Clinical Procedures and Specimen Handling 2
When collecting a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity, which collection method is preferred to avoid contamination?