American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Phlebotomy Practice Exam

What is the proper method for collecting sputum samples?

1. Have the patient breathe normally into a cup

2. Encourage the patient to drink water before collection

3. Instruct the patient to cough hard after deep breaths

4. Ask the patient to spit saliva into the cup

The correct answer is: Instruct the patient to cough hard after deep breaths

The proper method for collecting sputum samples involves instructing the patient to cough hard after taking deep breaths. This technique is essential for obtaining an adequate sample of sputum, which is typically thicker and more viscous than saliva and reflects what is present in the lungs. Deep breathing helps to mobilize and bring up secretions from the lower respiratory tract, while vigorous coughing aids in producing a sample that is more representative of the respiratory condition being evaluated. Collecting sputum in this manner ensures that the sample is rich in lung-derived material, which is crucial for accurate diagnostic testing, especially in the evaluation of respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Other methods, such as asking the patient to spit saliva into a cup or breathe normally, would not yield a proper sputum sample, as they involve substances that do not originate from the lower airways. Encouraging the patient to drink water beforehand may also dilute the sample, potentially compromising the quality needed for testing. Thus, instructing the patient to cough hard after taking deep breaths maximizes the likelihood of an effective sample collection.