Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | General Medical Information | Tests

Routine sputum culture

Definition

Routine sputum culture is a test of secretions from the lungs and bronchi (tubes that carry air to the lung) to look for bacteria that cause infection.

Alternative Names

Sputum culture

How the test is performed

You will cough deeply and spit any sputum into a sterile cup. The sputum is then taken to the laboratory. There, it is placed in a special substance (medium) under conditions that allow the bacteria or fungi to grow.

How to prepare for the test

Drinking a lot of water and other fluids the night before the test may help to get the sample.

How the test will feel

You will need to cough. Sometimes the health care provider will tap on the chest to loosen deep sputum. There may be a steam-like mist to inhale to help you cough up the sample.

Why the test is performed

The culture is done on the sputum to help identify the bacteria that are causing an infection in the lungs or airways (bronchi).

Normal Values

No presence of disease-causing organisms in the sputum is normal.

What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results will be reported as a positive culture. That means that there is a disease-producing organism found that may help diagnose:

• Bronchitis
• Lung abscess
• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis

Other conditions under which the test may be performed:

• Aspiration pneumonia
• Atypical mycobacterial infection
• Atypical pneumonia
• Blastomycosis
• Bronchiectasis
• Coccidioidomycosis; acute (primary) pulmonary
• Coccidioidomycosis; chronic pulmonary
• Coccidioidomycosis; disseminated
• Cryptococcosis
• Disseminated tuberculosis (infectious)
• Histoplasmosis; acute (primary) pulmonary
• Histoplasmosis; chronic pulmonary
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia
• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Plague
• Pulmonary aspergilloma (mycetoma)
• Pulmonary aspergillosis; invasive type
• Pulmonary tuberculosis
• Viral pneumonia

What the risks are

There are no risks with this method of obtaining a sample.

Special considerations

Sometimes a gram stain or AFB stain of the sputum done at the same time can help make the diagnosis.

Review Date:11/12/2007
Reviewed By:Arnold L. Lentnek, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.