b. Box of tissues.
c. Gloves.
d. Laboratory request form (SF 553).
2-7.
PROCEDURE FOR SPUTUM SPECIMEN
a. Wash your hands and gather the equipment.
b. Provide privacy for the patient and explain the procedure. Place the tissues
nearby and have the patient rinse his mouth with clear water to remove any food
particles.
c. Assist the patient to a sitting position, if necessary and ask him to cough
deeply and spit into the container. Tell the patient to avoid touching the inside of the
container because it is sterile.
d. A sputum specimen is considered highly contaminated and must be treated
with caution. To prevent contamination by particles in the air, keep the container closed
until the patient is ready to spit into it. Close the container immediately after collecting
the specimen to prevent the spread of any organisms from the specimen. Offer tissues
for the patient to wipe his mouth.
e. Wash your hands, label the container, and complete the laboratory request
form. Take the specimen to the laboratory immediately; allowing the specimen to
remain in a warm place will result in overgrowth of any organisms that may be present.
f. Record the amount, consistency, and color of the sputum collected, as well as
the time and date in the nursing notes.
2-8.
STOOL SPECIMEN
Stool specimen are collected for many examinations. The most common is the
ova and parasites test, a microscopic examination of feces for detecting parasites such
as amebas or worms. Stools specimen are often tested for blood. Guaiac or
HemOccult test may be done in the laboratory but are sometimes done at the nursing
station to test a stool for occult blood.
2-9.
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
Supplies and equipment required to collect a stool specimen are
a. Gloves
MD0906
2-4