Collecting Sputum

Your doctor wants you to collect sputum for testing. Sputum is the thick material from deep in the lungs. You must cough deeply to get a sample out. It is not the watery fluid in your mouth or the back of your nose or throat.

How to Collect Sputum

You need to collect 1 sample of sputum each morning before breakfast for 3 mornings in a row. Collect each sample in a separate container.

Steps:

1. Spit out any fluid in your mouth.
2. Rinse your mouth well with water.
3. Cough deeply to get sputum up from the lungs. Spit the sputum directly into the container.
4. Close the container tightly.
After you get the sample:

• Keep the container at room temperature until you return it for testing.
• Write your name and the date of the sample on each container.
• Return all 3 containers.

Call your doctor’s office if you cannot cough up sputum from your lungs.