Final answer:
The best way to mobilize secretions and collect a sputum sample is through coughing. During coughing, mucus and debris are expelled from the respiratory tract. To collect a sputum sample, a sterile swab is used to obtain the sample and then smeared onto a glass slide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best way to mobilize secretions and collect a sputum sample is through the process of coughing. Coughing is an involuntary response of the respiratory system that helps to remove mucus and debris from the respiratory tract. When the nerves lining the airways are irritated, the body responds by forcefully expelling air from the trachea, which aids in the removal of phlegm and sputum.
During coughing, the material that moves up the mucociliary escalator to the throat is typically cleared from the respiratory tract by either clearing the throat or coughing it out. The phlegm or sputum can be expectorated (spit out) or swallowed and destroyed by stomach acids.
To collect a sputum sample, a sterile swab is used to obtain the sample from the respiratory tract. The swab is then smeared onto a glass slide and allowed to dry. Heat fixation is done by passing the slide through the flame of a Bunsen burner. The fixed smear can then be sent to the laboratory for further analysis and evaluation.