Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 84%
Simulated
Which time would be ideal for the LPN/LVN to collect a sputum specimen?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Morning is considered the ideal time for collecting a sputum specimen. Overnight, mucus accumulates in the respiratory tract because the patient is less active and not clearing their throat or coughing as much. This means that the mucus is more concentrated and has had time to build up, providing a more substantial and representative sample of what is in the lungs.