American Medical Technologist (AMT) Practice Exam

What is the primary reason for ensuring the proper collection of urine specimens?

1. To minimize waste

2. To ensure accurate testing

3. To reduce costs

4. To increase collection speed

The correct answer is: To ensure accurate testing

Ensuring accurate testing is paramount when collecting urine specimens, as the quality and reliability of laboratory results depend heavily on how well the specimen is collected and handled. An improperly collected specimen can lead to contamination, degradation, or loss of analytes, which could result in misleading results. These inaccuracies can impact diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients. Collecting urine specimens according to established protocols helps maintain specimen integrity, preserves the chemical composition, and allows for accurate analysis of the components present. Accurate testing is essential in a clinical setting, as it directly affects patient care and the effectiveness of further medical interventions. While minimizing waste, reducing costs, and increasing collection speed are important considerations in a clinical laboratory context, they are secondary to the need for obtaining an accurate and reliable specimen for testing. Without accurate test results, any subsequent actions or decisions could be compromised, potentially endangering patient health.