This document discusses various diagnostic tests used in nursing. It describes tests as either invasive, requiring insertion of instruments into the body, or noninvasive. Common reasons for tests are to diagnose, monitor, or guide treatment of diseases. Specimen collection procedures are outlined for blood, urine, stool, sputum and other samples. Laboratory tests discussed include cultures, blood counts, chemistries and radiological exams like x-rays, CTs and MRIs. Invasive procedures like biopsies and aspirations are also summarized.

1. BASIC NURSING IN
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
WANYAMA F. W

2. Types of Diagnostic Tests
 Noninvasive: The body is not entered with
any type of instrument.
 Invasive: The body’s tissues, organs, or
cavities are accessed through some type
of procedure making use of instruments.
◦ Most invasive procedures require
informed consent of the client.

3. Reasons for Laboratory Tests
 To detect and
quantify the risk of
future disease.
 To establish or
exclude diagnoses.
 To assess the
severity of the
disease process and
formulate a
prognosis.
 To guide the
selection of
interventions.
 To monitor the
progress of the
disorder.
 To monitor the
effectiveness of the
treatment.

4. General Considerations for
Specimen Collection
 When collecting specimen, wear
gloves to protect self from contact with
body fluids.
 Get request for specimen collection
and identify the types of specimen
being collected and the patient from
which the specimen collected.
 Give adequate explanation to the
patient about the purpose, type of
specimen being collected and the

5. CONT’
 Assemble and organize all the necessary
materials for the specimen collection.
 Get the appropriate specimen container
and it should be clearly labeled have tight
cover to seal the content and placed in the
plastic bag or racks, so that it protects the
laboratory technician from contamination
while handling it.
• The patient's identification such as, name,
age, card number, the ward and bed
number (if in-patient).
• The types of specimen and method used (if
needed).
• The time and date of the specimen

6. CONT’
 Put the collected specimen into its
container without contaminating outer
parts of the container and its cover.
 All the specimens should be sent
promptly to the laboratory, so that the
temperature and time changes do not
alter the content.

7. Types of Specimen Collection
 Venipuncture: the use of a needle to puncture a
vein to aspirate blood.
 Arterial puncture.
 Capillary puncture.
 Central Lines: refers to a venous catheter
inserted into the superior vena cava through the
subclavian or internal or external jugular vein.
 Implanted port: a port that has been implanted
under the skin.
 Urine collection.
 Stool collection.

8. Types of Urine Collection
 Random (routine analysis)
 Timed (two types: short period → 1-2
hours, long period → 24 hours)
 Collection from a closed urinary drainage
system.
 Sterile specimen (catheterized)
 Clean-voided specimen(also called clean
catch or midstream urine specimen).

9. Equipments Required
 Disposable gloves
 Specimen container
 Laboratory requisition form (Completely
filled)
 Water and soap or cotton balls and
antiseptic solutions(swabs).
 For patients confined
• Urine receptacles (i.e. bedpan or urinals)
• Bed protecting materials e.g. mackintosh
• Screen (if required)

10. Types of Urine Tests
 Urine pH.
 Specific Gravity.
 Urine Glucose.
 Urine Ketones.
 Urine Cells and Casts.

11. Procedures for Stool
Collection
 Explain to client the
reason for collection.
 Refrigerate stools if
collected for a
prolonged period of
time.
 Label container with
client’s name, date
and time, and test to
be performed on the
specimen.
 Place stool
specimens in
biohazard bag before
transport to
laboratory.
Purposes: For laboratory diagnosis, such as
microscopic examination, culture and sensitivity
tests.

12. Equipments required
 Clean bedpan or
commode
 Wooden spatula or
applicator
 Specimen
container
 Tissue paper
 Laboratory
requests
 Disposable glove,
for patients
confined in bed
 Bed protecting
materials
 Screen

13. Types of Stool Tests
 Urobilinogen.
 Occult blood (blood in the stool detected
only with a microscope or by chemical
means).
 Parasites.

14. Collecting sputum
specimen
 Sputum is the mucus secretion from the
lungs, bronchi and trachea, but it is
different from saliva.
 The best time for sputum specimen
collection is in the mornings up on the
patient’s awaking (that have been
accumulated during the night).
 If the patient fails to cough out, sputum
can be obtained by aspirating
pharyngeal secretion using suction.

15. Purposes of sputum specimen
collection
 Culture and sensitivity test (i.e. to
identify the microorganisms and
sensitive drugs for it)
 Cytological examination
 Acid fast bacillus (AFB) tests
 Assess the effectiveness of the
therapy

16. Collecting Blood Specimen
 The hospital laboratory technicians
obtain most routine blood specimens
or a clinician or a nurse.
 Venous blood is drawn for most tests,
 Arterial blood is drawn for blood gas
measurements.

17. Purpose
 Specimen of venous blood are taken
for complete blood count, which
includes
• Hemoglobin and hemotocrit
measurements
• Erythrocytes (RBC) count
• Leukocytes (WBC) count
• Differential counts

18. Type and Crossmatch
 Identifies the client’s blood type and
determines the compatibility to blood
between a potential donor and recipient
(client).

19. Blood Chemistry
 Blood Glucose.
 Serum Electrolytes.
 Blood Enzymes.
 Blood Lipids.

20. Culture and Sensitivity
Tests
 Culture refers to the growing of
microorganisms to identify the pathogen.
 Sensitivity tests are performed to identify
both the nature of the invading organism
and its susceptibility to commonly used
antibiotics.

21. Types of Culture and
Sensitivity Tests
 Blood Culture.
 Throat (Swab) Culture.
 Sputum Culture.
 Urine Culture.
 Stool Culture.

22. Other diagnostic tests
 Papanicolaou Test: a smear method of
examining stained exfoliative cells,
commonly called a Pap smear.
 Radiography: The study of film exposed
to x-rays or gamma rays through the
action of ionizing radiation.
 Used by the practitioner to study internal
organ structure.

23. Cont’
 Fluoroscopy: Immediate, serial images
of the body’s structure and function.
 Reveals the motion of organs.
 Chest X-Ray: The most common
radiological study.
 Noninvasive, noncontrasted.

24. Computed Tomography
 The radiological scanning of the body.
 X-ray beams and radiation detectors
transmit data to a computer that
transcribes the data into quantitative
measurement and multidimensional
images of the internal structures.

25. Barium Studies
 The use of barium, a chalky white
contrast medium, in a preparation that
permits roentgengraphic visualizations of
the internal structures of the digestive
tract.
 Angiography: Visualization of the
vascular structures through the use of
fluoroscopy in conjunction with a contrast
medium.

26.  Arteriography: The radiographic study of
the vascular system following injection of
a radiopaque dye through a catheter.

27. Ultrasound
 A noninvasive procedure that uses high-
frequency sound waves to visualize deep
body structures.
 Also called echogram or sonogram.

28. Magnetic Resonance Imaging
 The MRI use of radiowaves and a strong
magnetic field to make continuous cross-
sectional images of the body.

29. Electrocardiogram
 A graphic recording of the heart’s
electrical activity.

30. Stress Test
 A measure of the client’s cardiovascular
fitness.
 It demonstrates the ability of the
myocardium to respond to increased
oxygen requirements by increasing the
blood flow to the coronary arteries.

31. Thalium Test
 Thalium201 is a radioactive isotope that
emits gamma rays and closely resembles
potassium.
 Often performed in conjunction with ECG.

32. Electroencephologram (EEG)
 The graphic recording of the brain’s
electrical activity.

33. Endoscopy
 The visualization of a body organ or
cavity through a scope.

34. Aspiration
 A procedure that is performed to withdraw
fluid that has abnormally collected or to
obtain a specimen.

35. Biopsy
 The excision of a small amount of tissue,
obtained during aspiration or in
conjunction with other diagnostic tests.

36. Amniocentesis
 The withdrawal of amniotic fluid to obtain
a sample for examination.
 Indicated when client is:
◦ Over 35.
◦ Has had a spontaneous abortion with a
previous pregnancy.
◦ Has a family history of genetic,
chromosomal, or neural tube defects.

37. Paracentesis
 The aspiration of fluid from the abdominal
cavity.

38. Thoracentesis
 The aspiration of fluid from the pleural
cavity.

39. Lumbar Puncture
 The aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) from the subarachnoid space.
 Also called spinal tap.