IPSA FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!
steps to complete an oral swab
1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2.Tell patient what you are going to do and what to expect
3.Ensure that patient has not had anything to eat or drink prior to testing or used any oral care
products (e.g. 15 min for food/drink and 30 min for oral care products; varies)
4. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
5. Have patient tilt head back
6. Hold swab in dominant hand
7. Hold patient's lips
8. Swabbed the patient's gums under their lips (all four quadrants, both upper and lower gums)
9. Remove swab from mouth as move from one quadrant to another to avoid touching frenulum
10. Appropriately process and dispose of specimen
11. Sanitize hands
steps to complete throat swab
1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2. Tell patient what you are doing and what to expect (may cause coughing or gagging - try to
resist)
3. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
4. Ask patient to tilt head back, stick tongue out, close eyes. Visualize the anatomy of the throat.
(can ask to say "ah")
5. Hold tongue depressor in non-dominant hand and swab in dominant hand
6. Collect specimen by passing the swab along the tonsillar arches, striking the Uvula. Then
swab the reverse direction. Try not to touch the sides of the mouth.
7. Appropriately process specimen and dispose of materials
8. Sanitize hands
steps to complete nasal swab
, 1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2. Tell patient what you are going to do and what to expect (may be mildly uncomfortable, but
should not be painful)
3.Ensure patient has not blown their nose prior to the procedure
4. Ask patient if they have a preferred nostril
5. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
6. Have the patient tilt their head back and use your non-dominant hand to steady the head
7. Hold the swab in the dominant hand
8. Insert the cotton end of the swab straight into the nasal cavity until reaching the turbinates
(roughly one inch). Go up at 45 degree angle, then go straight in for one inch (will be 2 inches in
from the tip of the nose), then rotate swab quick half turn (to ensure the swab collects cells as
well as mucous) and back out
9. Process sample appropriately, then dispose of materials
10. Sanitize hands
steps for completing nasopharyngeal swab
1. Have the patient blow their nose to clear excess secretions
2. Tilt the patients head back slightly (so nasal passage more accessible) and ask them to close
their eyes
3. Gently insert the swab straight back (not upwards) along the nasal septum, just above the floor
of the nasal passage, until you reach the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
4. The swab should reach a depth equal to the distance from the nostrils to the outer opening of
the ear
5. Once resistance has been met, rotate swab several times
6. Withdrawal the swab and process the sample
steps for completing a saliva test
1. Generate saliva (must not eat or drink for 10 min previously)
2. Aspirate saliva (about 0.5cc)
3. Dispense saliva into tube
4. Mix and label
CORRECT ANSWERS!
steps to complete an oral swab
1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2.Tell patient what you are going to do and what to expect
3.Ensure that patient has not had anything to eat or drink prior to testing or used any oral care
products (e.g. 15 min for food/drink and 30 min for oral care products; varies)
4. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
5. Have patient tilt head back
6. Hold swab in dominant hand
7. Hold patient's lips
8. Swabbed the patient's gums under their lips (all four quadrants, both upper and lower gums)
9. Remove swab from mouth as move from one quadrant to another to avoid touching frenulum
10. Appropriately process and dispose of specimen
11. Sanitize hands
steps to complete throat swab
1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2. Tell patient what you are doing and what to expect (may cause coughing or gagging - try to
resist)
3. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
4. Ask patient to tilt head back, stick tongue out, close eyes. Visualize the anatomy of the throat.
(can ask to say "ah")
5. Hold tongue depressor in non-dominant hand and swab in dominant hand
6. Collect specimen by passing the swab along the tonsillar arches, striking the Uvula. Then
swab the reverse direction. Try not to touch the sides of the mouth.
7. Appropriately process specimen and dispose of materials
8. Sanitize hands
steps to complete nasal swab
, 1. Greet patient, introduce yourself, state title and ask permission
2. Tell patient what you are going to do and what to expect (may be mildly uncomfortable, but
should not be painful)
3.Ensure patient has not blown their nose prior to the procedure
4. Ask patient if they have a preferred nostril
5. Sanitize hands and put on gloves
6. Have the patient tilt their head back and use your non-dominant hand to steady the head
7. Hold the swab in the dominant hand
8. Insert the cotton end of the swab straight into the nasal cavity until reaching the turbinates
(roughly one inch). Go up at 45 degree angle, then go straight in for one inch (will be 2 inches in
from the tip of the nose), then rotate swab quick half turn (to ensure the swab collects cells as
well as mucous) and back out
9. Process sample appropriately, then dispose of materials
10. Sanitize hands
steps for completing nasopharyngeal swab
1. Have the patient blow their nose to clear excess secretions
2. Tilt the patients head back slightly (so nasal passage more accessible) and ask them to close
their eyes
3. Gently insert the swab straight back (not upwards) along the nasal septum, just above the floor
of the nasal passage, until you reach the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
4. The swab should reach a depth equal to the distance from the nostrils to the outer opening of
the ear
5. Once resistance has been met, rotate swab several times
6. Withdrawal the swab and process the sample
steps for completing a saliva test
1. Generate saliva (must not eat or drink for 10 min previously)
2. Aspirate saliva (about 0.5cc)
3. Dispense saliva into tube
4. Mix and label
