Certified Nursing Assistant Exam Prep

Answer: A -The best time to collect a sputum specimen is in the morning, right after the client awakens. Make sure that a sterile container is available to collect the specimen. The client may be instructed not to eat or rinse his mouth upon rising until the specimen is obtained. If the client has eaten recently, have him rinse out his mouth. Ask the client to take three consecutive deep breaths. On the third breath, ask him to exhale deeply and cough. The client should be able to bring up sputum from within the lungs. Explain to him that saliva is not adequate for this test.