The Manual of Clinical Microbiology says sputum can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or kept at room temperature for up to two hours prior to processing for potential pathogens.

How long can a sputum sample sit out?

It is concluded that sputum should not be stored at room temperature for longer than 3 days for culture but it can be stored for 4 weeks without any loss of smear-positivity.

What is the temperature requirement for transport of sputum sample?

1.3 Sputum specimen shipment – Without CPC transport medium: between 2 and 8°C and protected from light; – With CPC transport medium: should not be refrigerated because at low temperatures the CPC will crystallize and ruin the sample. Specimens should be kept at room temperature, protected from heat and light.

What is the best time to collect a sputum sample?

Best time of day to collect sputum is when you first wake. Do not eat, drink or smoke before coughing up sputum from the lungs. Rinse (do not swallow) the mouth with water before sputum is collected to minimize residual food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs that might contaminate the specimen.

How should sputum be stored and transported?

1 Sputum specimens should be placed in a leak proof biohazard bag with sealed lids and absorbent material and transported to the laboratory in a cooler with chilled ice packs as soon as possible after collection.

How do you get phlegm for sputum test?

Take a very deep breath and hold the air for 5 seconds. Slowly breathe out. Take another deep breath and cough hard until some sputum comes up into your mouth. Spit the sputum into the plastic cup.

How much sputum is needed for a specimen?

The necessary amount of sputum for most tests is 5 ml (about 1 teaspoon). However, multiple tests are often ordered so more specimen may be needed. Some testing is best done on serial specimens, so you may be asked to collect for three days in a row.

Can I brush my teeth before sputum test?

3. DO NOT eat or drink, brush your teeth, smoke, use a mouth wash or rinse your mouth before you collect your sputum (this may contaminate the sample and cause overgrowth of other bacteria).

What is the most common indication for collection of a sputum specimen?

Principles of sputum specimen collection A specimen is indicated if patient has: Clinical signs of infection including a productive cough and purulent sputum; Signs of systemic infection; Pyrexia of unknown origin (Dougherty and Lister, 2015).

How do you get mucus out of your lungs from pneumonia?

Breathing exercises can give your lungs a boost as you get over pneumonia. Take five to 10 deep breaths, then cough forcefully two or three times. That should push some mucus out of your lungs. Or just take slow, deep breaths.

Article first time published on

How do you store a sputum specimen?

Keep the samples in the refrigerator. Return each sample to the clinic within two days of collection. clean cup with a screw cap ▪ Collect one sample. Keep the sample in the refrigerator.

What is the ideal location for sputum collection?

Sputum samples should be collected in an open ventilated space. The staff supervising the collection should not stand in front of the patient, because of the risk of aerosol infection.

What is the ideal location for sputum collection Mcq?

What is the ideal location for sputum collection? The correct answer is (c). Sputum expectoration can release infectious aerosols, which are diluted in the open-air or a well ventilated room and are inactivated by UV light in the outdoors.

Can Genexpert be done on blood?

This new assay format extends the capability of the Xpert MTB/RIF test, enabling up to 20 ml of blood to be tested rapidly for the presence of M. tuberculosis. This approach may be a useful method to detect extrapulmonary tuberculosis and the risk of death in immunocompromised patients.

What is a sputum C&S test?

In a sputum culture test, a laboratory uses a sample of this mucus to try to encourage the growth of any bacteria or other germs that may be causing an infection. A sputum culture test can reveal whether there is an infection in the lungs and, if so, the type of bacteria or fungus involved.

What is purulent sputum?

Purulent sputum is off-white, yellow or green, and opaque. It indicates the presence of large numbers of white blood cells, especially neutrophilic granulocytes. In asthmatics, the sputum may look purulent from the eosinophilic cells.

Should I rinse my mouth before collecting a sputum?

1. VERY IMPORTANT: Before you collect a sample of sputum, brush your teeth/dentures well and gar- gle with water (not mouthwash) to rinse-out your mouth. Do not eat, drink or smoke before collecting the sputum.

What is the difference between phlegm and sputum?

Sputum is produced when a person’s lungs are diseased or damaged. Sputum is not saliva but the thick mucus – sometimes called phlegm – which is coughed up from the lungs.

What is the fastest way to get mucus out of your lungs?

Drinking enough liquids, especially warm ones, can help your mucus flow. Water can loosen your congestion by helping your mucus move. Try sipping anything from juice to clear broths to chicken soup. Other good liquid choices include decaffeinated tea and warm fruit juice or lemon water.

Why is there GREY stuff in my phlegm?

For most people, white or light gray phlegm, especially when accompanied by nasal congestion, typically signals the onset of viral bronchitis. The color indicates the presence of infection-fighting white blood cells, and phlegm and nasal mucus will be thicker than usual.

How long does it take to get results from a sputum test?

When will I get the results from my sputum tests? Smear test results are usually ready within 1 to 2 business days after it arrives at the lab. Culture results may take up to 8 weeks, depending on how quickly the bacteria grow.

Why is sputum collected in the morning?

Collection of early morning specimens is preferred because of the overnight accumulation of secretions; however, you may collect specimens at any time for patients who have a deep cough that is readily productive. Collect sputum in a sterile container for processing and examination.

What is the color of sputum in tuberculosis?

Pink or blood-tinged sputum is commonly caused by tuberculosis worldwide. Bloody sputum: Bloody sputum, even just a trace of blood tinged sputum, should always be evaluated. Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) can be serious, and is the first sign of lung cancer in 7 to 35 percent of people.

Is it okay to drink water before sputum test?

Drinking plenty of fluids can help loosen the secretions and make it easier to cough up sputum. Your doctor may ask you to rinse out your mouth with clear water to help get rid of any other bacteria and extra saliva. You’ll be asked to spit the sputum into a small cup.

What if sputum test is negative?

When a patient is “culture negative,” there are no detectable TB organisms in his/her sputum and the patient is considered completely non-contagious. The likelihood of transmission derives primarily from factors related to the TB patient or the environments in which contacts are exposed.

How do hospitals remove mucus from lungs?

1. Controlled coughing. This type of coughing comes from deep in your lungs. …
2. Postural drainage. You lie down in different positions to help drain mucus from your lungs.
3. Chest percussion. You lightly tap your chest and back.

How can I clean my lungs in 3 days?

1. Steam therapy. Steam therapy, or steam inhalation, involves inhaling water vapor to open the airways and help the lungs drain mucus. …
2. Controlled coughing. …
3. Drain mucus from the lungs. …
4. Exercise. …
5. Green tea. …
6. Anti-inflammatory foods. …
7. Chest percussion.

What is the most preferred and the routine sputum specimen collection?

Early morning sputum samples are preferable for routine C&S, but samples collected at other times of the day are also acceptable. Sputum is material brought up from as far down in the lungs as possible. It is not saliva.

Which test has highest sensitivity for TB?

If sputum smears and NAA tests are negative, and TB is still suspected, cultures are the most sensitive tests for TB. Culture is therefore very useful for diagnosing both smear-negative TB and drug-resistant TB.

What bacteria can be found in sputum?

The most common pathogens detected with a sputum culture are bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella species.

What is the difference between GeneXpert and TB PCR?

For Smear positive specimens, Xpert MTB/RIF assay showed 93.8% sensitivity, which was higher than Advansure TB/NTM real-time PCR at 87.5%. On the other hand, for smear negative specimens, Xpert MTB/RIF assay showed 65.5% sensitivity, which was lower than Advansure TB/NTM real-time PCR at 75.9%.