SPECIMEN COLLECTION

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY :
MS.SINSU RACHEL ALEX MS.NEHA GILL
ASST.LECTURER
M.SC(N)PREV.YR
CCON CCON
INTRODUCTION

 Nutritional metabolic state of the body is reflected in the

composition of body secretions like urine, stool, vomitus, sputum
etc. Observation of these secretions is included in every routine
health assessment when diseases are suspected. These secretions
are assessed in laboratory for changes.
 Collection of these secretions is one of the most important
responsibilities of the nurse. The accuracy and reliability of
findings depend on the correct method by which the specimen are
collected and transported to laboratory.
DEFINITION

A specimen may be defined as a small quantity of a

substance or object which shows the kind and quality of
the whole.
Purpose

 To understand the importance of specimen collection .

 To develop skills in collection of specimens.

 To differentiate between the variations of normal to abnormal in

sickness.

 To know the normal functioning of the body.

 Purpose

 To make diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

 To know the progress or recess of the disease.

 To know the effects of special treatment and drugs.

 To ascertain the general health of the patient

Things to remember

 Contaminated and improperly collected specimens will produce

false results which will adversely affect the diagnosis and treatment
of patients.
 Give adequate explanation regarding the collection of specimens.
 When to collect
 What to collect
 How to collect and quantity.
 Ask the patient to wash external genital area with soap & water &
rinse with water alone before collecting urine specimens.
Contd…

 Equipments used for the collection of specimens should be clean

and dry.
 No antiseptic should be present in the specimen bottle.
 As far as possible morning samples are collected.
 If a culture specimen is required
 Use sterile containers
 Get midstream specimen or catherised specimen in case of urine
specimen.
Contd…

 Avoid collecting urine during menstruation.

 The inside of the container should not be contaminated with
the fingers of the nurses or patients, before or after collecting
the specimens.
 Thelid of the container should be removed and placed in such
a way that the inner surface should not be contaminated.
 Open the container just before collecting the specimen and
close it immediately after collecting the specimen.
Contd…

 Specimens should be always fresh for the lab examination. Send

the specimens to the lab as soon as they are collected. The
motility of the organism can be noted only when they are fresh.
 Bacteria multiply in the room temp.so the specimens which are
not tested immediately are kept in refrigerator because cold temp
inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Contd…

 The accuracy and reliability of findings depend upon the correct

method of collection, transportation of the specimens to the lab &
recording of reports
 Label each specimen as soon as it is received with the necessary
data .
 Specimens are not to be misplaced send them to proper place.
 Record the reports immediately and correctly
Contd…

 When giving the container ,explain to the patient not to

contaminate the outside of the container with the specimens
because it will contaminate the hands of those who handle them.
 Containers should have wide mouth.
 There should be no cracks in the specimen bottles.
NURSES RESPONSIBILITIES

 Preparation of patient
 Explain the procedure to the patient.
 Explain the procedure how, when to collect.
 Give the general instructions.
Preparation of the equipments

 COLLECTION TO BE DONE IN A SPECIFIC CONTAINER

THAT IS
-CLEAN
-STERILE (FOR CULTURE)
-SPECIFIC QUANTITY FOR SPECIFIC TESTS
-LABELLED FOR CLEAR IDENTIFICATION.
 ALL SPECIMENS MUST BE COLLECTED FRESH USUALLY
IN THE MORNING.
 FOLLOW THE CORRECT METHOD OF COLLECTION.
 ALL SPECIMENS SHOULD BE WELL LABELLED
 Contd…

 THE PATIENT’S NAME

 - BED NO, WARD NO, REGISTRATION NO.

 - DATE OF COLLECTION, DOCTORS UNIT.

 -NAME OF THE SPECIMEN, INVESTIGATIONS ASKED/REQUIRED.

 FOR FEMALE PATIENTS, URINE AND STOOL SPECIMENS SHOULD BE

AVOIDED DURING MENSTRUATION. IF IT HAS TO BE COLLECTED,
PUT TAMPON IN VAGINA BEFORE COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN.
SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Method of collecting single urine
specimen

 Single urine specimen means the amount of urine voided at a time.

 Morning specimens are collected.

 100 to 120 ml of urine will be sufficient for usual tests.

 After cleaning the genital area the patient passes the urine into a
clean urinal or directly into the specimen bottle, taking care not to
spill the urine on the outside of the container.
Method of collecting midstream specimen for
culture

 Ask patient to clean the genital area with soap and water, then
rinse with water alone.

 When enough urine had been collected them the container is

removed and the patient voids back in the toilet.
Method of collection of 24 hrs urine specimen

 24 hrs urine specimen means to collect all the urine voided in 24

hrs. the collection begins at 6am. Ask the patient to void at 6 am
and discard the whole urine.
 All the subsequent voiding should be measured and collected in
the bottle which is labeled.
 Continue to collect till next morning.
 Ask the patient to void at 6am next
 morning and add it to the urine previously collected
URINE SPECIMEN FROM AN
INDWELLING CATHETER
 STERILE SPECIMEN MAY BE ATTAINED BY USING :-
 CLEAN CATCH TECHNIQUE
 CATHETERISING THE CLIENT
 OBTAINING THE SPECIMEN FROM THE INDWELLING
CATHETER ALREADY IN PLACE
 THE URINE SPECIMEN FROM A PATIENT WITH AN
INDWELLING CATHETER SHOULD BE COLLECTED
FROM THE CATHETER ITSELF.
URINE FOR PREGNANCY TEST

 URINE IS COLLECTED AFTER 14 DAYS OF MISSED

PERIOD PREFERABLY MORNING SAMPLE. THE URINE IS
TESTED FOR HUMAN CHORIONIC GENODOTROPIN.
(HCG)
COLLECTION OF BLOOD SPECIMEN FOR
CULTURE
BLOOD SPECIMEN COLLECTION

 Blood specimen collection is performed routinely to obtain blood

for laboratory testing. Blood can be obtained from venous access
devices and sometimes by fingerstick. Blood is most frequently
obtained via a peripheral vein puncture (venipuncture).
Purpose
 Blood is usually drawn and collected in order to perform a variety of
laboratory tests.

 Blood specimens are often sent to help diagnose conditions such as electrolyte
imbalances.

 To screen for risk factors like high cholesterol levels, and to monitor the
effects of treatments and medications.

 To determine pregnancy

 To identify hemoglobin level in blood.

Venepuncture using vacutainer needle
(Standard method)

 venipuncture or venepuncture is the process of

obtaining intravenous access for the purpose of
venous blood sampling (also called phlebotomy)
or intravenous therapy. In healthcare, this procedure is
performed by  medical practitioners,
 paramedics , phlebotomists , and nursing staffs .
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
PROCEDURE OF VENEPUNCTURE
 STEP 1 : IDENTIFY CORRECT PATIENT , INTORDUCE YOURSELF TO THE
PATIENT AND EXPLAIN PROCEDURE TO THE PATIENT ,GAIN CONSENT OF
THE PATIENT FOR PROCEDURE
Step 2:Ensure that you have all the needed
equipments.
 A clean tray containing:
• Alcohol swab
• Dry swab
• Tourniquet
• Vaccutainer ( according to investigation )
• Syringe, butterfly needle or vaccutainer needle
• Needle cutter
• Sterile gloves
• Kidney tray
• Paper bag
Step 3 : Wash and sanitize your hands using alcohol cleanser.
Step 4 : Select the vein , apply
tourniquet and re-check the vein
Step 5: Wear gloves and clean the site
with alcohol swab
Step 6: Prepare the vaccutainer needle
Step 7 : Retract the skin and insert the
needle into the vein
Step 8: Attach the vaccutainer , let it
fill and remove from the needle holder
Step 9: Withdraw the needle and apply
dry cotton over the puncture site
Step 10: Invert the tubes for proper
mixing of blood with additives
Step 11: Discard the needle into
puncture proof container
Step 12: Documentation

 Mention in the nurses record about the time of sample collection

and the type of investigations taken and sign with employee ID .
Venepuncture using Safety Lock
butterfly needle (Alternative Method )

 The process involves obtaining intravenous

access for the purpose of venous blood sampling.
In this method the blood is withdrawn through a
safety -lock butterfly needle into a vaccutainer
for diagnostic purposes.
Conclusion

 Specimen collection is an essential prerequisite that the

laboratory must be given sufficient clinical information to guide
the microbiologist in selection of the suitable media and
appropriate techniques.