Specimen Information

Three consecutive morning samples desired. Each day send individual samples for processing. Send samples as soon as possible. Refrigerate if held overnight or over weekend. It is essential to include history of cancer/radiation /chemotherapy on laboratory requisition.

Sputum for Cytology

• Optimum Cytology is performed on fresh, unfixed sputum. It is strongly recommended that an early morning specimen be obtained in a wide mouth container without fixative. The patient should produce a deep cough specimen.  Saliva and mouth contaminants are to be avoided.  Collection from 8:00 to 9:00 am is desirable.  Avoid collection of sample over several days; individual fresh specimens are far better.
• Deliver fresh specimens to the laboratory immediately after collection.  Specimen containers (not the lid) need to be labeled with the patient’s full name and a second identifier.  Samples collected between 4:00 pm and 7:30 am should be refrigerated until transported to the laboratory. The accompanying laboratory requisition should contain all pertinent clinical information.  If other sputum testing is required a second collection is also required.
• For patients undergoing bronchoscopy, an early morning sputum specimen should be collected the morning following bronchoscopy.
• The pick-up rate for positive sputum cytology is approximately 50% when one specimen is submitted, 75% for 2, and 85% when 3 specimens are received.  We recommend that early morning specimens be submitted from 3 consecutive days.