Clinical Medical Assistant Exam Practice Question

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When preparing a nasal swab for lab transport, the initial action should be to put on gloves to ensure proper hygiene and prevent contamination. This step is crucial as it protects both the medical assistant and the patient from potential pathogens.

Labeling the swab (A) should occur after the swab is collected to ensure accurate identification, while placing the swab in the transport tube (C) should follow the collection. Washing hands (D) is important but typically occurs before donning gloves, not as the first step in this specific procedure. Thus, the priority is to ensure a sterile environment by wearing gloves first.