Colorado CNA Practice Exam

The best time to collect a sputum specimen is:

1. During lunchtime

2. Early in the morning

3. In the afternoon

4. Just before bedtime

The correct answer is: During lunchtime

The optimal time to collect a sputum specimen is early in the morning. This is because, at this time, the mucus and secretions have had the longest duration to accumulate overnight, making it easier for the patient to produce a sample that is more concentrated and reflective of the respiratory condition. Collecting the specimen in the morning ensures that it is more likely to contain cells and pathogens present in the lower airways, enhancing the diagnostic yield of the test. While specimens can potentially be collected at any time, the quality of the sputum may not be as high later in the day when the patient has been more active and the respiratory secretions may be less concentrated. Additionally, collecting a sample during lunchtime or in the afternoon could lead to lower yield due to normal daily activities that clear the airways. The same reasoning applies to collecting specimens just before bedtime, as the body would not have had the long period of accumulation that occurs overnight.