Sputum Culture

Expectorated Sputum

1. If possible, have patient rinse mouth and gargle with water prior to sputum collection.

2. Instruct patient not to expectorate saliva or postnasal discharge into container.

3. Collect specimen resulting from deep-cough in a screw-capped, sterile cup or other suitable sterile collection assembly.

4. Label cup/container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Induced Sputum

1. Using a wet toothbrush, brush buccal mucosa, tongue, and gums prior to procedure.

2. Rinse patient’s mouth thoroughly with water.

3. Using an ultrasonic nebulizer, have patient inhale approximately 20 mL to 30 mL of 3% to 10% 0.85% NaCl.

4. Collect induced sputum in a screw-capped, sterile container or other suitable sterile collection assembly.

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Tracheostomy, Endotracheal Aspiration

1. Tracheostomy is followed by colonization within 24 hours of insertion of tube. Results may be correlated with clinical findings such as fever or infiltrate on chest X-ray.

2. Aspirate specimen into a sterile sputum trap or collect tracheostomy specimen with red (Liquid Stuart) and place in a culture transport tube.

3. Label trap/tube with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, and type of specimen.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.