Sputum test
sputum test · sputum sample · sputum culture
You cough up mucus from your lungs into a sterile container. The lab looks at it under a microscope and, if needed, grows a culture.
For a long cough with mucus, for bronchitis or pneumonia, if tuberculosis is suspected, and to choose treatment.
⏱ Duration: collecting takes 5 to 10 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Time. Sputum is usually collected in the morning, right after you wake up. The most builds up overnight.
- Mouth. Do not eat before collecting. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with boiled water, so extra germs do not get into the container.
- Container. Get a sterile container from a pharmacy or your clinic. Do not open it early or touch the inside.
- Several samples. Sometimes you are asked to collect sputum 2 or 3 days in a row. Check with your clinic.
What to bring
- Your referral
- The labeled container with sputum, if you collected it at home
How it goes
- Take 2 or 3 deep breaths
- As you breathe out, cough hard from deep in your chest
- Spit the mucus into the container without touching the edges with your lips
- Close the lid tightly
- Take it to the lab within 1 to 2 hours
What you'll feel
- Nothing unpleasant except coughing
- If mucus will not come up, warm drinks the evening before and deep breaths help
Afterwards
- Saliva will not work for the test. It must be mucus from the lungs
- Microscope results usually take 1 to 2 days, a culture takes several days
- Talk about the result with your doctor
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Coughing up a lot of blood: call emergency services
- Severe shortness of breath or chest pain: call emergency services
Common questions
How is sputum different from saliva?
Sputum is thick and comes from the lungs with a deep cough. Saliva is thin and clear. A saliva sample is useless.
What if I cannot cough up mucus?
Drink more warm water the day before, and take a few deep breaths in the morning. If it still does not work, tell your doctor. There are other ways.