Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

Collect

Expectorated sputum: Sterile screw-cap cup.
Induced sputum: Sterile screw-cap cup.
Tracheal or endoctracheal aspirate: Sputum trap or sterile screw-cap or tube.
Bronchoalveolar lavage: Sputum trap or sterile screw-cap or tube.
Bronchial washing: Sputum trap or sterile screw-cap or tube.
Bronchial brush: Sputum trap or sterile screw-cap or tube.
Transtracheal aspirate: Sterile screw-cap tube with 1-2 ml of nonbacteriostatic 0.85%
NaCl.
Lung aspirate: Sterile screw-cap tube with 1-2 ml of nonbacteriostatic 0.85%
NaCl

 

Specimen Preparation

Sputum: Have patient brush teeth with no toothpaste, swish water, and spit to reduce normal oral flora from contaminating sputum. Produce sputum into sterile cup with minimum spit. First morning expectorant is highest quality of sample.

Storage Transport Temp

Specimens should be transported to the lab at room temperature within 2 hours of collection or Refrigerated.

Stability

2 hours; 24 hours at 4 degrees. 3 days for Preadmission sputum

Notes

Gram Stain is included with each culture.
All sputum will be cultured regardless of stability, but the results should be interpreted with caution if cultured outside of stability window.

Performed

7 days a week

Methodology

Conventional Culture

Reported

3 days

Department

Microbiology Lab

Synonyms

RESP

Reference Interval

By Report

CPT Code

87205, 87070