Specimen Requirements

The laboratory will make the smear for Gram stain.

Specimen source is required.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: Sputum, early-morning, expectorated

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Collection Instructions:

1. Have patient remove dentures.

2. Instruct patient to brush his/her teeth and/or rinse mouth well with water to minimize contaminating specimen with food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs which may inhibit growth of mycobacteria.

3. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, cough deeply and vigorously into container, and collect discharged material.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Nasal secretion, saliva, or 24-hour collection is not acceptable.

Specimen Type: Sputum, early-morning, induced

Container/Tube: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: Entire collection

Collection Instructions:

1. Induce cough by inhalation of sterile, hypertonic saline, and collect expectorated material.

2. Avoid sputum contamination with nebulizer reservoir water.

3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Additional Information:

1. A sputum grading is performed on all sputum cultures.  Sputums with an unacceptable grade of poor will  be rejected.

Sputum grading criteria are as follows:

Good Specimen           =>25 WBCs, <10 EPI'S

Mod-Poor Specimen    = 10 - 25 EPI'S

Poor Specimen            =>25 EPI'S (Culture will be canceled)

2. Indicate on request form if specimen is induced sputum, as these watery specimens resemble saliva and risk rejection as inadequate.

3. Saprophytic mycobacteria in tap water may produce false-positive culture or smear results.