Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

Which type of specimen should be collected in a sterile container for microbiological examination?

1. Urine

2. Stool

3. Sputum

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

When conducting microbiological examinations, it is essential to collect specimens in a sterile container to prevent contamination from non-target microorganisms. In this context, urine, stool, and sputum all require sterile collection methods to ensure that the results accurately reflect the presence of pathogens and are not skewed by the normal flora present in these specimens. For urine analysis, collecting in a sterile container is crucial to avoid contamination that could lead to false-positive results for infections. Similarly, when testing stool samples, although they may often have a high bacterial load, collecting them in a sterile environment is important for isolating specific pathogens without interference from normal gut flora. Sputum specimens, too, must be collected in a sterile manner to accurately identify respiratory pathogens, as saliva and oral flora can contaminate the sample if proper sterile techniques are not followed. Thus, collecting all these specimen types in a sterile container is necessary for valid microbiological evaluation and ensuring the reliability of diagnostic results.