• Culture
• Gram stain
• Identification, susceptibilities and serogrouping will be performed on all microbiology isolates considered by the laboratory to be significant

Aiding in diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections.

Screw cap plastic container (sterile)

Collect an expectorated, induced, or aspirated sputum

Expectorated sputums should preferably be an early morning, deep cough specimen

• How to collect a sputum sample for your lab test

Sputum may be submitted in the collection container, or placed in the transport liquid of the ESwab (no more than half the liquid volume)

Screw cap plastic container (sterile) or

ESwab transport tube

Sterile container:
Ambient within 2 hours (preferred), within 24 hours is acceptable.

ESwab transport tube:
Refrigerated - 24 hours
Ambient - 24 hours

• Improper label (unlabeled or mislabeled)
• Time delay between time of collection and receipt of specimen
• Inappropriate timing of collection
• Improper transport container
• Improper transport temperature
• Interfering substances
• Inappropriate specimen type
• Expectorated sputum with oropharyngeal contamination
• Leaking container

Culture and gram stain