Patient CareQuestion 19 of 100
When collecting a throat specimen for a rapid strep test, what is the correct technique?
a.Swab the inside of the cheeks and under the tongue
b.Have the patient gargle with mouthwash first, then swab the uvula
c.Insert the swab quickly through the nostril to the back of the throat
d.Depress the tongue and swab both tonsillar areas and the posterior pharynx, avoiding the tongue, teeth, and lips
Explanation
A valid throat culture requires firmly swabbing the tonsils, tonsillar pillars, and posterior pharynx while avoiding contact with the tongue, teeth, cheeks, and lips, which harbor normal flora that dilute the sample. Cheek and tongue swabs miss the target organisms entirely. Mouthwash can reduce recoverable bacteria, and a nasal swab is used for other tests, not for a throat culture.
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