Specimen Requirements

1. Collect a first-morning, “deep-cough” sputum specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container. Do not add alcohol or preservatives.
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.

3. Instruct patient to take a deep breath, hold it momentarily, then cough deeply and vigorously into container, and collect 5 to 10 mL of discharged material.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), hospital identification number or date of birth, date and time of collection, and source of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

6. Causes for rejection:

A. Inadequately labeled specimen
B. Improper container

C. Insufficient specimen volume

D. Multiple specimens collected same day

E. Sputum specimen consisting entirely of saliva

F. Delay in transport to laboratory
Note: 1. Specimen source is required.

2. Gram stain is routinely performed to determine acceptability of specimen.

3. If multiple specimens are required, collect specimens on separate days. Individual specimens must be sent to laboratory on day of collection.

4. Whenever possible bacteriological examinations should be carried out before antibiotic therapy is instituted.

5. The same specimen may be used for #TBCU “Culture, Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB)” and fungus culture if the specimen is of adequate volume (6-8 mL) for all tests requested.