Free PCT Non-Blood Specimen Collection Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When instructing a female patient on how to collect a clean-catch midstream urine specimen, the PCT should tell her to:
- Collect the very first part of the urine stream
- Wipe the perineal area from back to front
- Begin urinating into the toilet, then collect the specimen (Correct answer)
- Fill the collection cup to the very top
Correct answer: Begin urinating into the toilet, then collect the specimen
A clean-catch midstream specimen requires careful technique to prevent contamination. The patient should first clean the perineal area, then begin urinating into the toilet, stop the stream, collect the specimen in the cup, and finally finish urinating in the toilet. This ensures the sample is from the middle of the urine stream, which is least likely to be contaminated.
Question 2: A PCT is collecting a 24-hour urine specimen. The patient voids at 8:00 AM. What should the PCT do with this first specimen?
- Add it to the collection container as the first sample
- Discard the specimen and start the collection (Correct answer)
- Send it to the lab as a random specimen
- Test it with a reagent strip and then add it to the container
Correct answer: Discard the specimen and start the collection
A 24-hour urine collection begins with an empty bladder. Therefore, the first voided specimen at the start time (e.g., 8:00 AM) is discarded. All subsequent urine for the next 24 hours, including the final void at the end of the period (8:00 AM the next day), is collected.
Question 3: When collecting a stool specimen for ova and parasites (O&P), what is a critical step?
- Refrigerate the specimen immediately
- Ensure the specimen is not contaminated with urine (Correct answer)
- Collect the specimen from the toilet bowl water
- Wait at least one hour before sending it to the lab
Correct answer: Ensure the specimen is not contaminated with urine
A stool specimen for O&P must be taken to the laboratory immediately while it is still warm. This is because parasites have a limited lifespan outside the body, and a delay can lead to their disintegration, resulting in a false-negative test.
Question 4: What is the best time of day to collect a sputum specimen?
- Immediately after a meal
- In the early morning upon waking (Correct answer)
- Right before bedtime
- In the middle of the afternoon
Correct answer: In the early morning upon waking
The best time to collect a sputum specimen is first thing in the morning. Secretions pool in the airways overnight, making the morning specimen more concentrated and more likely to contain the microorganisms needed for an accurate diagnosis.
Question 5: A PCT needs to collect a sputum specimen for culture. The patient is having difficulty producing a sample. The PCT should instruct the patient to:
- Spit saliva into the cup
- Drink a large glass of cold water quickly
- Take a few deep breaths and then cough deeply (Correct answer)
- Lie flat on their back for 10 minutes
Correct answer: Take a few deep breaths and then cough deeply
To obtain a good sputum sample, the patient must cough deeply from the lungs, not just clear their throat. Taking several deep breaths first can help mobilize secretions and trigger a productive cough to bring up sputum from deep within the respiratory tract.
Question 6: When collecting a stool specimen for a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), the PCT should instruct the patient to avoid which of the following for 3 days prior to the test?
- Dairy products
- Red meat (Correct answer)
- High-fiber bread
- Yellow vegetables
Correct answer: Red meat
Certain foods and medications can interfere with the chemical reaction used in fecal occult blood tests, leading to a false-positive result. Red meat contains hemoglobin, which can be detected by the test and incorrectly suggest the presence of human blood.
Question 7: After collecting a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity, what is the most appropriate action if it cannot be transported to the lab immediately?
- Leave it at the patient's bedside
- Place it in a specimen refrigerator (Correct answer)
- Add a preservative tablet from the lab
- Keep it in a warm water bath
Correct answer: Place it in a specimen refrigerator
Urine is a medium for bacterial growth. If a specimen for culture sits at room temperature for too long, bacteria can multiply, leading to an inaccurate result. Refrigeration slows down this bacterial growth, preserving the integrity of the specimen until it can be transported.
Free PCT Non-Blood Specimen Collection Questions and Answers 1
When instructing a female patient on how to collect a clean-catch midstream urine specimen, the PCT should tell her to: