Routine Sputum Culture – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 12 min read
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Sputum culture Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough deeply. How the Test is Performed A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to...

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Article Summary

Sputum culture Routine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough deeply. How the Test is Performed A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any phlegm that comes up from your lungs into a special container. The sample is sent...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains How the Test is Performed in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How to Prepare for the Test in simple medical language.
  • This article explains How the Test will Feel in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Why the Test is Performed in simple medical language.
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Sputum culture
Routine sputum culture is a diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: রক্ত/প্রস্রাব/নমুনা পরীক্ষা।" data-rx-term="laboratory test" data-rx-definition="A laboratory test examines blood, urine, tissue, or other samples to help diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: রক্ত/প্রস্রাব/নমুনা পরীক্ষা।">laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough deeply.

How the Test is Performed

Definition

A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any phlegm that comes up from your lungs into a special container. The sample is sent to a lab. There, it is placed in a special dish (culture). It is then watched to see if bacteria or other disease-causing germs grow.

How to Prepare for the Test

Drinking a lot of water and other fluids the night before the test may make it easier to cough up the sputum.

How the Test will Feel

You will need to cough. Sometimes the health care provider will tap on your chest to loosen deep sputum. Or, you may be asked to inhale a steamlike mist to help you cough up the sputum. You may have some discomfort from having to cough deeply.

Why the Test is Performed

The test helps identify the bacteria or other type of germs that are causing an infection in the lungs or airways (bronchi).

Normal Results

In a normal sputum sample there will be no disease-causing germs.

What Abnormal Results Mean

If the sputum sample is abnormal, the results are called “positive.” Identifying the bacteria, fungus, or virus may help diagnose the cause of:

  • Bronchitis (swelling and infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation in the main passages that carry air to the lungs)
  • Lung abscess (collection of pus in the lung)
  • Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis
  • A flare-up of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis

Risks

There are no risks with this test.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the sputum test?

  • A sputum test, also known as a sputum culture, is a test that your doctor may order when you have a respiratory tract infection or other lung-related disorder to determine what is growing in the lungs. Sputum is a thick substance that accumulates when bacteria or fungi grows and multiples in the lungs or bronchi.

What if the sputum culture test is positive?

  • If your AFB culture was positive, it means you have active TB or another type of AFB infection. The culture can identify which type of infection you have. Once you have been diagnosed, your provider may order a “susceptibility test” on your sample.

What does routine respiratory flora mean?

  • That means that when a person has a bacterial respiratory infection, there will typically be harmless bacteria that are normally present in the mouth, throat, etc. ( normal flora) as well as disease-causing (pathogenic) bacteria present.

Can a sputum test detect pneumonia?

  • Pneumonia can prevent your lungs from moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream. Sputum test. A sample of fluid from your lungs (sputum) is taken after a deep cough and analyzed to help pinpoint the cause of the infection.

What is culture-positive TB?

  • Tuberculosis culture results are negative if no Mycobacterium tuberculosis is found in the culture. Test results are positive if these bacteria are found in the culture.

How is TB culture done?

  • A culture test involves studying bacteria by growing the bacteria on different substances. This is to find out if particular bacteria are present. In the case of the TB culture test, the test is to see if the TB bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is present.

How do you read sputum test results?

  • The results of a sputum culture test are primarily reported as normal (negative) or abnormal (positive): Normal or negative means that the test did not detect any harmful germs in your sputum. Abnormal or positive indicates that potentially harmful bacteria or fungi were detected.

How do you read a sputum culture?

Sputum Culture

  • Clear. This usually means no disease is present, but large amounts of clear sputum may be a sign of lung disease.
  • White or gray. This may also be normal, but increased amounts may mean lung disease.
  • Dark yellow or green. This often means a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia.
  • Brown.
  • Pink.
  • Red.

What bacteria can be found in sputum?

  • Most previous studies indicate that up to 50% of COPD exacerbations are caused by bacteria, alone or in combination with viruses and that the most commonly identified bacteria in sputum culture are Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfuluezae, Streptoccocus pneumonia, and Moraxella catharralis according to GOLD

What are the 4 different types of pneumonia?

The main types of pneumonia are:
  • Bacterial pneumonia. This type is caused by various bacteria.
  • Viral pneumonia. This type is caused by various viruses, including the flu (influenza), and is responsible for about one-third of all pneumonia cases.
  • Mycoplasma pneumonia.
  • Other pneumonia.

Can I drink water before the sputum test?

  • Do not eat, drink or smoke before coughing up sputum from the lungs. Rinse (do not swallow) the mouth with water before sputum is collected to minimize residual food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs that might contaminate the specimen.

How long does it take for sputum culture results for TB?

  • A normal sputum culture can take 1 to 8 weeks to provide results. A rapid sputum test can tell if a person has TB within 24 hours. A test may be done when: A person is thought to have TB, but confirmation is needed before sputum culture results will be ready.

What color is the sputum of tuberculosis?

  • Tuberculosis (TB)If someone has TB, they may cough up green or bloody phlegm. They will also experience symptoms that can include: weight loss. night sweats.

What is the most accurate test for tuberculosis?

  • The most commonly used diagnostic tool for tuberculosis is a skin test, though blood tests are becoming more commonplace. A small amount of a substance called tuberculin is injected just below the skin on the inside of your forearm. You should feel only a slight needle prick.

When is a sputum culture indicated?

  • But you might need to give a sputum culture if: Your cough suggests you have an illness caused by bacteria, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or tuberculosis (a potentially serious infection that usually affects your lungs and can cause you to cough up blood).

What laboratory tests examine sputum?

  • A sputum stain for Mycobacteria is a diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: রক্ত/প্রস্রাব/নমুনা পরীক্ষা।" data-rx-term="laboratory test" data-rx-definition="A laboratory test examines blood, urine, tissue, or other samples to help diagnosis. সহজ বাংলা: রক্ত/প্রস্রাব/নমুনা পরীক্ষা।">laboratory test performed on a sample of your sputum, or phlegm. It’s also known as an acid-fast bacillus (AFB) stain or tuberculosis (TB) smear. A doctor typically orders the test to determine if a person has tuberculosis (TB) or another type of mycobacterial infection.

What does pus cells in sputum mean?

  • Purulent sputum contains pus, composed of white blood cells, cellular debris, dead tissue, serous fluid, and viscous liquid (mucus). Purulent sputum is typically yellow or green. It is seen in cases of pneumonia, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, or an advanced stage of bronchitis.

What is the difference between mucus and sputum?

  • The terms sputum and phlegm are used interchangeably. The term mucus may sometimes be used instead of sputum, but sputum refers to that mucus specifically secreted in the respiratory tract, whereas mucus may also be produced in the gastrointestinal tract, urological tract, and genital tract.

Can I brush my teeth before sputum test?

  • As soon as you wake up in the morning (before you eat or drink anything), brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water. Do not use mouthwash. If possible, go outside or open a window before collecting the sputum sample. This helps protect other people from TB germs when you cough.

How fresh does a sputum sample need to be?

  • It is concluded that sputum should not be stored at room temperature for longer than 3 days for culture but it can be stored for 4 weeks without any loss of smear positivity.

How do you get Flem out of your throat that’s stuck?

Self-care steps
  • Gargle with warm saltwater. This home remedy can help clear mucus from the back of your throat and may help kill germs.
  • Humidify the air.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Elevate your head.
  • Avoid decongestants.
  • Avoid irritants, fragrances, chemicals, and pollution.
  • If you smoke, try to stop.

How accurate is sputum test for TB?

  • For example, for sputum-negative, culture-positive specimens, sensitivity for a single sample is reported as 72.5%, whereas for three samples it is only 90.2% (estimated 95% confidence interval, 84.9–93.8%).

What is the normal color of sputum?

  • Clear phlegm is normal. It’s made of water, salt, and other cells,” said Dr. Kreel. “When you become sick, the phlegm may thicken as well as change color as your body fights off the infection.

What does Brown sputum mean?

  • Brown Phlegm – The phlegm is brown because of blood and the intense chronic infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation that comes with the chronic disease state. The bacteria camp out inside the lungs and cause very gradual changes in the consistency and appearance of phlegm. If you have chronic lung disease, you may be used to seeing brown phlegm.

How reliable are sputum cultures?

  • The sensitivity and specificity of the gram-positive diplococci identification in the sputum culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae were 60% and 97.6%, and the positive and negative predictive values were 91% and 85.3%, respectively. Conclusions Good-quality sputum with PM could be obtained in only 14.4% of all patients.

Why sputum culture test is done?

  • A sputum test, also known as a sputum culture, is a test that your doctor may order when you have a respiratory tract infection or other lung-related disorder to determine what is growing in the lungs. Sputum is a thick substance that accumulates when bacteria or fungi grows and multiples in the lungs or bronchi.

What is sputum AFB test?

  • AFB smear—a microscopic examination of a person’s sputum or other specimen that is stained to detect acid-fast bacteria. It is a rapid test used to provide presumptive results within one to two days. It is valuable in helping to make decisions about treatment while waiting for culture results.

What is a good quality sputum sample?

  • The quality of sputum samples is determined by the minimum number of squamous epithelial cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes per low power field. An acceptable specimen has more than 25 leukocytes and fewer than 10 epithelial cells per low power field.

What do Gram-positive cocci in sputum mean?

  • Gram-positive diplococci (lancet-shaped or football-shaped) are suggestive of Streptococcus pneumonia (A). Cluster of Gram-positive cocci is suggestive of Staphylococcus aureus (B). Tiny Gram-negative coccobacilli are suggestive of Haemophilus influenzae (C).

What is squamous epithelial cells in sputum?

  • Squamous epithelial cells from the mouth are considered markers of oropharyngeal contamination in sputum specimens submitted for routine bacterial culture.
  • Squamous cells in sputum specimens also can originate in the respiratory tract of patients with squamous-cell carcinomas, however.

Is it okay to drink water before sputum test?

  • Do not eat, drink or smoke before coughing up sputum from the lungs.
  • Rinse (do not swallow) the mouth with water before sputum is collected to minimize residual food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs that might contaminate the specimen.

How do you collect a sputum sample at home?

Steps to Getting a Good Sputum Sample:
  • Goto the sputum collection.
  • Relax. Take a few deep breaths.
  • Rinse and spit with water.
  • Get ready–Put one hand over yours.
  • Cough deeply,so that you can really.
  • release it into the container provided by the.
  • Check–Give the sputum (phlegm) container to the study nurse to check for.

Do you have to refrigerate the sputum sample?

  • Sputum for Cytolog
  • CytoLyt tube
  • Collect a total of three samples on separate days. Put all of the samples in one container.
  • Do not keep the samples in the refrigerator. Return all of the samples to the clinic at one time on the third day of collecting the samples.

How long does it take to culture a sputum sample?

  • Test results may take from 1 day to several weeks. How long your results take depends on the type of infection your doctor thinks you may have. Some organisms don’t grow in a standard culture and need a special growth medium to be found in a sputum culture.

What is purulent sputum?

  • Purulent sputum is off-white, yellow or green, and opaque. It indicates the presence of large numbers of white blood cells, especially neutrophilic granulocytes. In asthmatics, the sputum may look purulent from the eosinophilic cells. Red coloration, uniform or streaky, is usually due to its mixture with blood.

Can I brush my teeth before sputum test?

  • As soon as you wake up in the morning (before you eat or drink anything), brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water. Do not use mouthwash. If possible, go outside or open a window before collecting the sputum sample. This helps protect other people from TB germs when you cough.

Can I eat before sputum test?

  • Saliva comes from your mouth. It’s clear and thin. Plan to collect sputum first thing in the morning, which makes the test more accurate. Don’t eat or drink anything in the morning before collecting your sample.

How do you do a sputum culture test?

  • You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any phlegm that comes up from your lungs into a special container. The sample is sent to a lab. There, it is placed in a special dish (culture). It is then watched for two to three days or longer to see if bacteria or other disease-causing germs grow.

How do you collect sputum for culture and sensitivity?

  • After a big cough, collect the sputum into the provided container. Replace the lid and tighten firmly.
Step 2
  1. Food should not be ingested for 1-2 hours prior to collection.
  2. Mouth should be rinsed out with water or saline prior to collection.
  3. Patient should breathe and cough deeply.

How fresh does a sputum sample need to be?

  • It is concluded that sputum should not be stored at room temperature for longer than 3 days for culture but it can be stored for 4 weeks without any loss of smear-positivity.

What time of day is best to collect a sputum specimen?

  • First wake, the Best time of day to collect sputum is when you first wake. Do not eat, drink or smoke before coughing up sputum from the lungs. Rinse (do not swallow) the mouth with water before sputum is collected to minimize residual food particles, mouthwash, or oral drugs that might contaminate the specimen.

How much sputum do you need for a sample?

  • about 1 teaspoon, The necessary amount of sputum for most tests is 5 ml (about 1 teaspoon). However, multiple tests are often ordered so more specimens may be needed. Some testing is best done on serial specimens, so you may be asked to collect for three days in a row.

Why sputum culture test is done?

  • A sputum test, also known as a sputum culture, is a test that your doctor may order when you have a respiratory tract infection or other lung-related disorder to determine what is growing in the lungs. Sputum is a thick substance that accumulates when bacteria or fungi grows and multiples in the lungs or bronchi.
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    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

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