Bacterial Culture, aerobic culture only - Sputum

Submit sputum in sterile container.
An early morning deep coughed specimen is preferred.
Patient should not gargle with mouthwash or brush teeth prior to collection of specimen.

Refer to CLS Form #M16001:
Sputum Collection Procedure - Patient Instruction Sheet

Store specimen at room temperature for up to 2 hours or at 4°C, if a delay in transport.

Sputum specimens from Intensive Care Units (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) or Special Care Nurseries (SCN), and Cystic Fibrosis sputum specimens are transported as PRIORITY specimens: must be received at the DSC within 2 hours of receipt in the RRL.

Indicate Candida/Yeast on requisition if required.

Contamination with saliva yields inconclusive results.

Only one sputum per 24 hour period will be cultured.
When more than one sputum specimen is received on the same day, the first sputum collected is cultured.

Turnaround time for negative culture: 2 days.