Deck 6: Specimen Collection

Question 1

Which of following specimens is an error in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory testing?

A) Urine collected in a plastic food container
B) Blood culture collected prior to the infusion of penicillin
C) Pleural fluid collected via syringe after cleansing of the skin
D) Stool collected in preservative prior to transportation from a physician's office

Answer 1

Urine collected in a plastic food container

Question 2

The least desirable specimen collection method for a wound infection is

A) tissue biopsy.
B) aspirate.
C) tissue scraping.
D) swab of site.

Answer 2

swab of site.

Question 3

A resident calls the microbiology laboratory and wants to know how to collect a pleural fluid for aerobic culture. You tell him to

A) aspirate the fluid, recap the needle, and send the syringe.
B) aspirate the specimen and place in a sterile, screw-top container.
C) collect the fluid in Cary-Blair preservative.
D) aspirate the fluid and place onto a sterile swab.

Answer 3

aspirate the specimen and place in a sterile, screw-top container.

Question 4

A tissue specimen for anaerobic culture should be transported in

A) a culturette swab.
B) a sterile, screw-top container.
C) anaerobic semisolid collection medium.
D) b or c.
E) a or c.

Question 5

To diagnose otitis media, the physician needs to collect

A) a swab of the ear canal.
B) an aspirate obtained through the eardrum via syringe.
C) blood cultures.
D) a saline wash of ear canal.

Question 6

A rectal swab is appropriate for

A) adults who have trouble producing a stool specimen.
B) detection of pinworms.
C) screening for VRE.
D) stool culture.

Question 7

Sputum for culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires collection

A) of at least two separate first morning specimens.
B) after nebulization.
C) of pooled specimens over 24 hours.
D) of an induced specimen.

Question 8

You receive a urethral swab for culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. You are currently processing two cerebrospinal fluids for Gram stain and culture. Since you cannot process the urethral swab for several minutes, it is appropriate to store it at

A) 42°C.
B) 30°C.
C) 25°C.
D) 4°C.

Question 9

Which of the following specimen types/body sites should be screened for quality using the presence of squamous epithelial cells?

A) Sputum
B) Skin wound for anaerobic culture
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

Question 10

The presence of squamous epithelial cells in sputum indicates

A) saliva not sputum.
B) an acceptable specimen.
C) a specimen suitable for anaerobic culture.
D) an induced specimen.

Question 11

Several patients in the burn unit have had cultures positive with the fungus aspergillus fumigatus. What type of specimen culture should be used to determine if this fungus is in the burn unit environment?

A) The patient's bed rails
B) Air in the room
C) Hands of the health care workers
D) Water from the tub used for removing dead tissue

Question 12

A missionary has recently returned from Africa. The infectious disease specialist suspects the woman has been exposed to Ebola virus. What specimen type is needed to assist in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever?

A) Serum
B) Bone marrow
C) Biopsy material
D) Swab of lesion material

Question 13

Several individuals are seen in the emergency room of large medical center. They exhibit symptoms of pneumonic plague. You receive bronchial washings and blood cultures. You will

A) process the specimens for Yersinia pestis.
B) refer them to a reference laboratory in the laboratory response network.
C) reject the specimens and request serum and tissue biopsies of lesions.
D) call CDC for further instructions.

Question 14

A boy, age 8, is seen in the emergency room with fever. The physician suspects meningitis and collects blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid. What total volume of blood should be collected from this patient for culture?

A) 20 mL
B) 16 mL
C) 8 mL
D) 4 mL

Question 15

A urine specimen was collected in a physician's office on Friday afternoon. It was placed in the refrigerator for the courier to pick up and transport to the microbiology laboratory. The courier missed the specimen on his last run of the day. The specimen remained in the refrigerator until Monday morning. The courier picked up the specimen on his first run of the day and transported it to the microbiology laboratory. On receipt, you will

A) process the specimen.
B) add preservative.
C) reject the specimen.
D) centrifuge the specimen prior to processing.

Question 16

An HIV positive individual is suspected of infection with Mycobacterium avium complex. The specimen of choice for diagnosis is

A) stool.
B) sputum.
C) gastric washing.
D) urine.

Question 17

A physician suspects herpes virus infection in a patient with genital lesions. She uses a cotton tipped swab to collect specimen from a vesicular lesion, places it in viral transport medium, and refrigerates it prior to transport. This specimen is unacceptable because

A) the wrong specimen type was collected.
B) the wrong swab was used.
C) viral transport medium was used.
D) the specimen was refrigerated.

Question 18

A stool for parasite examination should be rejected if

A) three specimens, collected on alternate days, are submitted.
B) it contains barium.
C) the specimen is received in formalin.
D) the collection container is clean but not sterile.

Question 19

The diagnosis of pinworm infection requires specimen collection to be completed

A) first thing in the morning.
B) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
C) anytime during the day or night.
D) over a 24-hour period.

Question 20

The specimen of choice for superficial fungal infection is

A) skin.
B) hair.
C) finger- or toenails.
D) all of the above.