Sputum Evaluation
(and Sputum Induction)
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What is the
test?
If your doctor thinks you have pneumonia, he
or she might examine a sample of your sputum,
the phlegm that you cough out of your lungs,
to try to determine what type of bacteria or
other infectious agent might be the cause.
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How
do I prepare for the test?
Drink plenty of fluids the night before the
test; this may help to produce a sample.
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What
happens when the test is performed?
You need to cough up a sample of sputum. To
be useful for testing, the stuff you cough up
has to be from deep within the lungs. If your
cough is too shallow or dry, the doctor might
ask you to breathe in a saltwater mist through
a tube or mask. This mist makes you cough deeply,
usually producing an excellent phlegm sample.
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What
risks are there from the test?
None.
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Must
I do anything special after the test is over?
No.
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How
long is it before the result of the test is
known?
The technician stains the sputum sample and
views it under a microscope. Some of the sample
is incubated to grow the bacteria or other germs
in it for further testing. This step is called
a sputum culture.While some stain results might
be available on the day of your test, the culture
usually requires several days.
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