NHA Phlebotomy Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following items would not be necessary when collecting a throat culture?

1. Flashlight

2. Blood agar culture plate

3. Tongue depressor

4. Sterile swab

The correct answer is: Blood agar culture plate

When collecting a throat culture, the primary goal is to obtain a sample of the throat secretions to test for the presence of bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes, which can cause strep throat. A sterile swab is essential for collecting the sample without introducing contaminants. A tongue depressor is used to hold down the tongue, providing better access to the throat for swabbing. A flashlight can also be beneficial as it allows better visualization of the throat area to ensure the sample is taken correctly. The blood agar culture plate is not necessary during the collection process itself. This item is used later in the laboratory as a culture medium where microorganisms will grow after the sample has been collected. The collection process focuses on gathering the sample rather than on the laboratory procedures that follow. Therefore, while the blood agar culture plate is an important component of the testing process, it is not required at the moment of sample collection.