SPUTUM QUALITY - CAN YOU TELL BY LOOKING

Background: Nurses are responsible for the collection of sputum sample s for culture in most institutions, yet they receive little formal tra ining on what a good specimen looks like. Methods: Three hundred thirt y-three consecutively collected expectorated sputum samples and trache al aspirates were examined to determine the relationship of macroscopi c specimen appearance (watery, mucoid, mucopurulent) to specimen quali ty (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, regardle ss of appearance. Eighty-seven percent of mucopurulent expectorated sp utum samples were good or fair. In the remaining nonmucopurulent speci mens, 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.