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Culture, Sputum (panel)
Test CodeCULTURE,SPUTUM(PANEL)
Alias/See Also
Sputum culture
Includes
Culture
Gram stain
Gram stain
Preferred Specimen
Expectorated sputum
Minimum Volume
>1.0 ml
Instructions
1.No food for one to two hours prior to sputum collection.
2.Obtain specimen prior to antibiotic treatment.
3.Do not have the patient rinse mouth and gargle with nonsterile water prior to sputum collection, since this can introduce contaminating microbiota.
4.Rinse mouth with sterile water or saline prior to sputum collection.
5.Instruct patient NOT to expectorate saliva or postnasal discharge into the container
6.Instruct patient to expectorate (cough up from the throat or lungs) directly into a sterile container.
2.Obtain specimen prior to antibiotic treatment.
3.Do not have the patient rinse mouth and gargle with nonsterile water prior to sputum collection, since this can introduce contaminating microbiota.
4.Rinse mouth with sterile water or saline prior to sputum collection.
5.Instruct patient NOT to expectorate saliva or postnasal discharge into the container
6.Instruct patient to expectorate (cough up from the throat or lungs) directly into a sterile container.
Transport Temperature
Room temperature: ≤ 2 hours
Specimen Stability
Refrigerated 2-8 degrees C. ≤ 24 hours
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Specimens received on gauze.
Specimens greater than 24 hours.
Specimens with poor quality gram stains.
1.Sputums are representative of a poor quality when the gram stain contains 10 or more epithelial cells and less than 25 segmented neutrophils per low power field. Sputum’s of poor quality will be cancelled for culture, and recollection is recommended. If processing is necessary regardless of the quality, submit a request to the laboratory. (For example: Cystic Fibrosis patients)
Specimens greater than 24 hours.
Specimens with poor quality gram stains.
1.Sputums are representative of a poor quality when the gram stain contains 10 or more epithelial cells and less than 25 segmented neutrophils per low power field. Sputum’s of poor quality will be cancelled for culture, and recollection is recommended. If processing is necessary regardless of the quality, submit a request to the laboratory. (For example: Cystic Fibrosis patients)
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
TAT: 48 hours
Reference Range
Normal Upper Respiratory Flora
Performing Laboratory
Test performed in the West Roxbury Microbiology Laboratory
Contact: Scott Connolly 857-203-5954
Last Updated: October 22, 2025
