Description
Why It’s Done:
This test is commonly recommended when a person shows symptoms of a respiratory tract infection, especially when:
• The infection is chronic, severe, or not responding to initial treatment.
• There are symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or productive cough with discolored mucus.
• Conditions like pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, or lung abscesses are suspected.
Purpose of the test:
• Identify the cause of a lower respiratory tract infection.
• Determine which antibiotics or antifungal medications will be most effective.
• Guide proper treatment to reduce the misuse of antibiotics.
Preparation:
• Collect the sample in the morning, ideally before eating or drinking.
• Rinse your mouth with water beforehand to reduce contamination from oral bacteria.
• Take a deep breath, cough deeply from the lungs (not the throat), and expel the sputum into a sterile container provided by the lab.
• Do not use saliva—ensure it is a deep mucus sample from the lungs.
• If you’re already on antibiotics, inform your healthcare provider, as it may affect test accuracy.
