CNA CNA Medical Lab and Specimen Collection Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident needs a clean-catch midstream urine specimen. Which instruction should the CNA give first?
- Begin urinating, then collect the sample
- Clean the urethral area with the provided wipes before urinating (Correct answer)
- Collect urine directly into the specimen cup from the start
- Refrigerate the cup before collecting the sample
Correct answer: Clean the urethral area with the provided wipes before urinating
The perineal area must be cleaned with antiseptic wipes before collection to prevent contamination of the specimen.
Question 2: When collecting a stool specimen for occult blood testing, the CNA should avoid which of the following?
- Using a wooden tongue depressor to transfer the sample
- Placing the sample in the designated specimen container
- Collecting the sample after the resident ate red meat recently (Correct answer)
- Labeling the container with the resident's name
Correct answer: Collecting the sample after the resident ate red meat recently
Red meat consumption before fecal occult blood testing can cause a false-positive result, so dietary restrictions must be followed.
Question 3: A urine specimen must be sent to the lab but will not be transported for 30 minutes. The CNA should:
- Leave the specimen at room temperature
- Refrigerate the specimen until transport (Correct answer)
- Add a preservative from the supply closet
- Discard and collect a fresh specimen at transport time
Correct answer: Refrigerate the specimen until transport
Urine specimens not transported immediately should be refrigerated to prevent bacterial growth and specimen degradation.
Question 4: While collecting a sputum specimen, the CNA notices the resident has produced only saliva. The CNA should:
- Label and send the saliva sample to avoid delay
- Ask the resident to rinse with water and try again with a deep cough (Correct answer)
- Mix the saliva with the small amount of mucus present
- Document that the specimen was collected successfully
Correct answer: Ask the resident to rinse with water and try again with a deep cough
Sputum must come from the lower airways via a deep cough; saliva is not an acceptable sputum specimen and the collection should be repeated.
Question 5: A 24-hour urine collection is in progress. The resident voids at 2 PM and the urine is accidentally discarded. What should the CNA do?
- Continue the collection and note the missed void in the chart
- Notify the nurse, as the 24-hour collection may need to restart (Correct answer)
- Add extra water to the collection container to compensate
- End the collection early and send what has been collected
Correct answer: Notify the nurse, as the 24-hour collection may need to restart
A discarded specimen during a 24-hour urine collection compromises accuracy, so the nurse must be notified and the collection typically restarted.
Question 6: When using a urine dipstick test at the bedside, which action ensures the most accurate result?
- Shake excess urine off the strip and read after exactly the time specified on the bottle (Correct answer)
- Hold the strip under running water after dipping to remove excess urine
- Read the results immediately after dipping before any color change occurs
- Store opened dipstick bottles in the refrigerator between uses
Correct answer: Shake excess urine off the strip and read after exactly the time specified on the bottle
Shaking off excess urine and reading the strip at the manufacturer's specified time interval ensures accurate color comparison and results.
Question 7: After completing a specimen collection procedure, the CNA's priority action before leaving the room is to:
- Document the collection in the medical record immediately
- Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene (Correct answer)
- Place the specimen in the transport bag and seal it
- Notify the nurse that the specimen is ready
Correct answer: Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene
Removing gloves and performing hand hygiene is the priority to prevent transmission of pathogens after any specimen collection.
CNA CNA Medical Lab and Specimen Collection Skills 4
A resident needs a clean-catch midstream urine specimen.
Which instruction should the CNA give first?