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Routine Sputum culture How the Test is Performed:
You are asked to cough deeply and spit any sputum in a sterile cup. The sputum is then taken to the laboratory. There, it is placed in a medium under conditions that allow the organisms to grow.
How to Prepare:
Increasing the amount of fluids the night before the test may help to get the sample.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
You will need to cough . Sometimes the health care provider will tap on the chest to loosen the sputum. There may be a steam-like mist to inhale to help cough up the sample.
Risks:
There are no risks with this method of obtaining a sample.
Why this Test is Performed:
The cultures and tests are done on the sputum to help identify the bacteria that are causing an infection in the lungs or the airways (bronchi).
Normal Values:
No presence of disease-causing organisms in the sputum is normal..
Abnormal Results:
The abnormal results will be reported as a positive culture. There is a disease-producing organism found that may help diagnose bronchitis , tuberculosis , a lung abscess , or pneumonia .
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
Cost:
The estimated cost is $50 to $60.
Special Considerations:
Not applicable.
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