D J Flournoy1, L J Davidson. 1. Laboratory Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nurses are responsible for the collection of sputum samples for culture in most institutions, yet they receive little formal training on what a good specimen looks like. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-three consecutively collected expectorated sputum samples and tracheal aspirates were examined to determine the relationship of macroscopic specimen appearance (watery, mucoid, mucopurulent) to specimen quality (good, fair, poor). RESULTS: Of the expectorated sputum samples, 21% were watery, 65% were mucoid, and 14% were mucopurulent. Sixty-five percent of the expectorated sputum samples were good or fair, regardless of appearance. Eighty-seven percent of mucopurulent expectorated sputum samples were good or fair. In the remaining nonmucopurulent specimens, however, there were no predictable markers of specimen quality. CONCLUSIONS: The only specimens that were predictably good were those that were mucopurulent yellow, yellow, or tracheal aspirates.
BACKGROUND: Nurses are responsible for the collection of sputum samples for culture in most institutions, yet they receive little formal training on what a good specimen looks like. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-three consecutively collected expectorated sputum samples and tracheal aspirates were examined to determine the relationship of macroscopic specimen appearance (watery, mucoid, mucopurulent) to specimen quality (good, fair, poor). RESULTS: Of the expectorated sputum samples, 21% were watery, 65% were mucoid, and 14% were mucopurulent. Sixty-five percent of the expectorated sputum samples were good or fair, regardless of appearance. Eighty-seven percent of mucopurulent expectorated sputum samples were good or fair. In the remaining nonmucopurulent specimens, however, there were no predictable markers of specimen quality. CONCLUSIONS: The only specimens that were predictably good were those that were mucopurulent yellow, yellow, or tracheal aspirates.
Authors: Attila Altiner; Stefan Wilm; Walter Däubener; Christiane Bormann; Michael Pentzek; Heinz-Harald Abholz; Martin Scherer Journal: Scand J Prim Health Care Date: 2009 Impact factor: 2.581