Sputum for Routine Culture
Routine sputum culture for bacterial respiratory infection, using a professionally collected or submitted sputum specimen for laboratory culture.
Turnaround time
2-4 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Sputum for Routine Culture Test
The Sputum for Routine Culture test is a microbiology investigation used to assess a lower-respiratory sputum specimen for bacterial growth.
Sputum is mucus coughed up from the airways and lungs.
It is different from saliva and should ideally represent material from the lower respiratory tract.
Routine culture can help identify bacterial organisms present in a clinically appropriate respiratory specimen.
Where significant bacterial growth is detected, the laboratory report may provide information useful for clinical treatment decisions.
The test is designed for routine bacterial culture and is different from specialist TB culture, fungal testing or respiratory viral PCR.
What Does the Sputum for Routine Culture Test Check?
The test performs routine microbiological culture on a sputum specimen. This test contains 1 specialist microbiology investigation.
Sputum for Routine Culture
Cultures a lower-respiratory sputum specimen to investigate bacterial growth associated with respiratory infection.
Who May Benefit From the Sputum for Routine Culture Test?
Routine sputum culture may be appropriate where bacterial lower-respiratory infection is suspected and a sputum specimen can be produced.
People with persistent productive cough - Culture may provide useful microbiological information.
People producing discoloured or purulent sputum - Bacterial infection may form part of the clinical differential.
People with recurrent chest infections - Microbiology testing can sometimes help identify recurring organisms.
People whose clinician has requested sputum culture - Laboratory culture may guide further management.
People with chronic respiratory conditions and a change in sputum - Testing may be clinically appropriate according to the individual's treatment plan.
How to Prepare
Where possible, the specimen should be collected before starting antibiotics unless treatment must begin urgently.
Do not delay clinically necessary treatment simply to obtain a culture sample.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Sputum for Routine Culture Test
A sputum culture is generally considered when lower-respiratory symptoms suggest possible bacterial infection.
Productive cough - Particularly where significant sputum is being produced.
Change in sputum colour or quantity - This may occur during respiratory infection.
Fever with respiratory symptoms - Clinical assessment may include bacterial culture.
Recurrent chest infections - Culture may help identify significant bacterial growth.
Persistent respiratory symptoms despite treatment - Additional microbiology investigation may be appropriate.
A clinician has requested culture before choosing or changing antibiotics - Culture can provide organism-specific information.
Severe breathlessness, chest pain, coughing up significant amounts of blood, confusion or rapidly worsening respiratory symptoms require urgent medical assessment.
How to Book Your Sputum for Routine Culture Test
Routine sputum culture requires collection of an appropriate respiratory specimen.
Choose the Sputum for Routine Culture Test
Select the routine bacterial culture investigation.
Select your sample collection option
Attend one of our clinics (+£35) or arrange a home visit from a phlebotomist (+£60) for specimen collection or handover.
Receive the appropriate specimen container
Use the supplied sterile sputum container.
Collect your sample
Produce a lower-respiratory sputum sample according to the instructions provided.
Laboratory analysis
The sample is cultured for significant bacterial growth.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised microbiology result is returned securely.
When Will I Receive My Results?
Results are generally expected within approximately 2–4 days.
Some findings may require additional work before a complete microbiology report can be authorised.
Understanding Your Results
A positive culture means bacterial growth considered relevant by the laboratory has been identified.
The significance of an organism depends on sample quality, symptoms and clinical history.
A negative routine culture means no significant routine bacterial pathogen was recovered using the laboratory method.
It does not exclude viruses, tuberculosis, fungi or every possible cause of respiratory symptoms.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides access to accredited routine respiratory microbiology testing.
Routine bacterial culture - The sample is investigated for bacterial growth.
Useful for productive respiratory infections - Sputum provides material from the lower airways.
Professional laboratory processing - Samples follow the appropriate infection-sciences pathway.
Approximately 2–4 day turnaround - Results are generally expected within the stated timeframe.
Different from TB culture - Routine bacterial testing and specialist mycobacterial culture are kept separate.
Secure reporting - Results are returned privately.
Private Sputum for Routine Culture Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Sputum for Routine Culture testing.
The test investigates an appropriate respiratory specimen for bacterial growth.
Results are generally expected within approximately two to four days after laboratory processing begins.