Routine sputum culture is a test of secretions from the lungs and bronchi (tubes that carry air to the lung) to look for bacteria that cause infection.
Alternative NamesSputum culture
How the test is performedYou will cough deeply and spit any sputum into a sterile cup. The sputum is then taken to the laboratory. There, it is placed in a special substance (medium) under conditions that allow the bacteria or fungi to grow.
How to prepare for the testDrinking a lot of water and other fluids the night before the test may help to get the sample.
How the test will feelYou will need to cough. Sometimes the health care provider will tap on the chest to loosen deep sputum. There may be a steam-like mist to inhale to help you cough up the sample.
Why the test is performedThe culture is done on the sputum to help identify the bacteria that are causing an infection in the lungs or airways (bronchi).
Normal ValuesIn a normal sputum sample there will be no disease-causing organisms present.
What abnormal results meanIf the sputum sample is abnormal, the results are called "positive." Identifying disease-producing organisms may help diagnose:
Other conditions under which the test may be performed:
There are no risks with this method of obtaining a sample.
Special considerationsSometimes a Gram stain or AFB stain of the sputum done at the same time can help make the diagnosis.
Routine sputum culture is a test of secretions from the lungs and bronchi (tubes that carry air to the lung) to look for organisms that cause infection.
Alternative NamesSputum culture
How the test is performedA health care provider will often collect sputum samples in the morning. The doctor or nurse may have you rinse your mouth first. The goal is to bring sputum up from deeper in your airways and your throat.
You will be asked to take three deep breaths, then force up some sputum amount by coughing deeply. You will spit any sputum that comes up into a sterile cup. The sputum is then taken to the laboratory. There, it is placed in a special substance (medium) under conditions that allow the bacteria or fungi to grow.
How to prepare for the testDrinking a lot of water and other fluids the night before the test may help to get the sample.
How the test will feelYou will need to cough. Sometimes the health care provider will tap on your chest to loosen deep sputum. There may be a steam-like mist to inhale to help you cough up the sample.
Why the test is performedThe culture is done on the sputum to help identify the bacteria, or other type of germs, that are causing an infection in the lungs or airways (bronchi). The doctor may collect a sputum sample the office or in the hospital.
The culture can prevent the need for more invasive procedures such as bronchoscopy.
Normal ValuesIn a normal sputum sample there will be no disease-causing organisms present. Often, bacteria that normally live in the mouth will grow in a sputum culture. This does not mean that you have a lung or airway infection.
What abnormal results meanIf the sputum sample is abnormal, the results are called "positive." Identifying the bacteria, fungus, or virus may help diagnose the cause of:
There are no risks with this method of obtaining a sample, although severe coughing might cause some chest discomfort.
Special considerationsSometimes a Gram stain or acid fast bacilli (AFB) stain of the sputum done at the same time can help make the diagnosis.
ReferencesLimper AH. Overview of pneumonia.In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds.Cecil Medicine. 24th ed.Philadelphia,PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 97.
Torres A, Menendez R, Wunderink R. Pyogenic bacterial pneumonia and lung abscess. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds.Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed.Philadelphia,Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 32.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 12/12/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Bacterial culture. Fungal culture. Viral culture
Sputum is material coughed up from the lungs and expectorated (spit out) through the mouth. A sputum culture is done to find and identify the microorganism causing an infection of the lower respiratory tract such as pneumonia.
It can take anywhere from one to eight weeks to get Tuberculosis Sputum culture results. The test will determine if you have Tuberculosis.
Sputum culture is the laboratory procedure for determining which pathogens are present.
Antibiotics in the person's system may prevent microorganisms present in the sputum from growing in culture.
42 days
Sputum from a healthy person would have no growth on culture. A mixture of microorganisms, however, normally found in a person's mouth and saliva often contaminate the culture. they may be reported as normal flora contamination.
Sounds pretty typical.
What can cause germination of a disk
The specimen for culture should be collected before antibiotics are begun. The patient should first rinse his or her mouth with water. If tuberculosis is suspected, collection of sputum should be carried out in an isolation room.
Wbc = inflamitory response, infection epithelial cells usually from lining in mouth and makes sputum sample inadequate for culture
Throat, Urine, sputum, wound, and stool.