Sputum Culture: What Affects The Test
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What Affects the Test
Factors that can interfere with your test and the accuracy of the results include:
- Recent use of antibiotics, which may prevent the growth of bacteria or fungi in the culture.
- Contamination of the sputum sample.
- An inadequate sputum sample.
- Waiting too long to deliver the sample to the laboratory.
- Use of mouthwash before collecting a sputum sample.
| Last updated: | March 21, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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