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Sampling (medicine)
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<h2 id="by-sampling-technique">By sampling technique</h2> <ul><li>Obtaining excretions or materials that leave the body anyway, such as <a href="/facts/Urine/oNUYVtvX">urine</a>, <a href="/facts/Feces/r9HDKB8G">stool</a>, <a href="/facts/Sputum/gduT4NG3">sputum</a>, or <a href="/facts/Vomitus/R2vQkHqV">vomitus</a>, by direct collection as they exit. A sample of <a href="/facts/Saliva/gK4nvayc">saliva</a> can also be collected from the mouth.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Surgery/fG8tWf5Y">Excision</a> (cutting out), a surgical method for the removal of solid or soft tissue samples.</li> <li>Puncture (also called <i>centesis</i>) followed by aspiration is the main method used for sampling of many types of tissues and body fluids. Examples are <a href="/facts/Thoracocentesis/xnB7qcPX">thoracocentesis</a> to sample <a href="/facts/Pleural_fluid/Wel4Tz7p">pleural fluid</a>, and <a href="/facts/Amniocentesis/yRAFThPd">amniocentesis</a> to sample <a href="/facts/Amniotic_fluid/Cjt7wfLk">amniotic fluid</a>. The main method of centesis, in turn, is <a href="/facts/Fine_needle_aspiration/BgVv8vqo">fine needle aspiration</a>, but there are also somewhat differently designed needles, such as for <a href="/facts/Bone_marrow_aspiration/8NVhtwx1">bone marrow aspiration</a>. Puncture <i>without</i> aspiration may suffice in, for example, <a href="/facts/Capillary_blood_sampling/4BIzKJAe">capillary blood sampling</a>.</li> <li>Scraping or swiping. In a <a href="/facts/Pap_test/lsRao90L">Pap test</a>, cells are scraped off a <a href="/facts/Uterine_cervix/qw3gl8Pq">uterine cervix</a> with a special <a href="/facts/Spatula/t5MQxDao">spatula</a> and brush or a special broom device that is inserted through a vagina without having to puncture any tissue. <a href="/facts/Epithelial_cell/ecKHcHC3">Epithelial cells</a> for <a href="/facts/Genetic_testing/H21wH0ze">DNA testing</a> can be obtained by swiping the inside of a cheek in a mouth with a swab.</li></ul> <h3>Biopsy or cytopathology</h3> <p>In terms of sampling technique, a <a href="/facts/Biopsy/A0TdRRlr">biopsy</a> generally refers to a preparation where the normal tissue structure is preserved, availing for examination of both individual cells and their organization for the study of <a href="/facts/Histology/yrI90zlU">histology</a>, while a sample for <a href="/facts/Cytopathology/za3sn0Jt">cytopathology</a> is prepared primarily for the examination of individual cells, not necessarily preserving the tissue structure. Examples of biopsy procedures are <a href="/facts/Bone_marrow_biopsy/8NVhtwx1">bone marrow biopsy</a>, <a href="/facts/Brain_biopsy/RwNvkEA2">brain biopsy</a>, <a href="/facts/Skin_biopsy/PKGyjlnI">skin biopsy</a> and <a href="/facts/Liver_biopsy/HeVlkKFT">liver biopsy</a>. </p> <h2 id="by-sampled-matter">By sampled matter</h2> <p>Different types of matter that are sampled can be categorized by solidness versus fluidity, such as: </p> <ul><li>Solid tissue, such as in <a href="/facts/Bone_marrow_biopsy/8NVhtwx1">bone marrow biopsy</a></li> <li>Soft tissue, such as in a <a href="/facts/Muscle_biopsy/wzcFwJxs">muscle biopsy</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Body_fluid/RkAXIBVN">Body fluids</a> such as <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">blood</a></li></ul> <h3>Body fluid sampling</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Body_fluid/RkAXIBVN">Body fluid sampling</a> includes: </p> <ul><li> <a href="/facts/Blood/03zEulkj">Blood sampling</a> for any <a href="/facts/Blood_test/zevsf3rC">blood test</a>, including: <ul><li><a href="/facts/Arterial_blood/qmPjv1My">Arterial blood</a> sampling, such as by <a href="/facts/Radial_artery_puncture/brtMC12c">radial artery puncture</a>. This can be done for <a href="/facts/Arterial_blood_gas/LGJ1peJh">arterial blood gas</a> analysis.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Capillary_blood_sampling/4BIzKJAe">Capillary blood sampling</a>, generally by using a <a href="/facts/Blood_lancet/fzPkndAx">blood lancet</a> for puncture, followed by sampling by <a href="/facts/Capillary_action/aa60yQ32">capillary action</a> with a test strip or small pipe. This is common for routine <a href="/facts/Diabetic/2xeHXbsI">diabetic</a> monitoring for <a href="/facts/Glucose/oUSkoLCD">glucose</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Venous/I6ycr6gF">Venous</a> blood sampling, also called <i>phlebotomy</i>. It is generally done by <a href="/facts/Venipuncture/eR5FsVAV">venipuncture</a> (which can also be used for <a href="/facts/Intravenous_therapy/AwwuD3Nu">intravenous therapy</a>). Other than routine diabetic monitoring for glucose, the majority of <a href="/facts/Blood_test/zevsf3rC">blood tests</a> are done on samples of venous blood taken by a <a href="/facts/Health_professional/m5e2jXHp">health professional</a>, including <a href="/facts/Phlebotomist/0XL5IoqL">phlebotomists</a> who are specifically trained in venipuncture. Such samples are commonly collected in capped <a href="/facts/Test_tube/oRlq86w5">test tubes</a>, often with a small amount of some sort of preservative.</li></ul></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cerebrospinal_fluid/tcWG7hhv">Cerebrospinal fluid</a> sampling, generally by <a href="/facts/Lumbar_puncture/uKwxHqpd">lumbar puncture</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pleural_fluid/Wel4Tz7p">Pleural fluid</a> sampling, generally by <a href="/facts/Thoracocentesis/xnB7qcPX">thoracocentesis</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Amniotic_fluid/Cjt7wfLk">Amniotic fluid</a> sampling, generally by <a href="/facts/Amniocentesis/yRAFThPd">amniocentesis</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Peritoneal_fluid/SJ9Kh9Ey">Peritoneal fluid</a> sampling, generally by <a href="/facts/Peritoneocentesis/L7kNFHh1">peritoneocentesis</a> (also called <i>laparocentesis</i>). It can be used for <a href="/facts/Cytopathology/za3sn0Jt">cytology</a> to detect spread of <a href="/facts/Gynecologic_cancer/h2YpIoPD">gynecologic cancers</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="by-component-of-interest">By component of interest</h2> <p>The sampled matter can be analyzed for various components, for example: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Electrolytes/4YE8bIVa">Electrolytes</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">Proteins</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a>, such as <a href="/facts/White_blood_cell/vsDunUK0">white blood cells</a> in blood sampling</li> <li>Microbiological agents, such as bacteria or fungi</li></ul> <h3>Microbiological sampling</h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/Medical_microbiology/cYUgYdjH">Microbiological</a> sampling</i> include: </p> <ul><li><i>Blood sampling</i> for <a href="/facts/Blood_culture/TSNpNFUb">blood cultures</a>, performed similarly as that for tests on the fluid itself above</li> <li><i>Throat swab</i> for <a href="/facts/Throat_culture/NIFucAYo">throat culture</a>. It is performed by applying a <a href="/facts/Cotton_swab/UShMs13V">cotton swab</a> to the surface of the <a href="/facts/Throat/JL1UKp5R">throat</a>.</li> <li>Sampling of <a href="/facts/Sputum/gduT4NG3">sputum</a> from the <a href="/facts/Lungs/gTWXI6Fj">lungs</a> for <a href="/facts/Sputum_culture/dNxlnPSY">sputum culture</a>. It can be performed by special techniques of coughing, or by a <i>protected specimen brush</i> (PSB),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> which is a brush that can be retracted into a plastic tube to prevent contamination of bacteria in the throat while inserting and removing the instrument.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Chastre, J.; Viau, F.; Brun, P.; Pierre, J.; Dauge, M. C.; Bouchama, A.; Akesbi, A.; Gibert, C. (1984). "Prospective evaluation of the protected specimen brush for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in ventilated patients". The American Review of Respiratory Disease. 130 (5): 924–929. doi:10.1164/arrd.1984.130.5.924 (inactive 1 November 2024). PMID 6497170.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link) <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>