specimen

[spes´ĭ-men]

a small sample or part taken to show the nature of the whole, such as a small quantity of urine for urinalysis or a small fragment of tissue for microscopic study.

clean-catch specimen (clean-voided specimen) a urine specimen obtained after the external urethral area is washed with a liquid soap and rinsed well; then the patient starts a urinary stream, stops it, and voids into a sterile specimen container. The purpose of obtaining such a specimen is to minimize contamination by external organisms. Called also midstream specimen.

midstream specimen clean-catch specimen.

sputum specimen a sample of mucous secretion from the bronchi and lungs; see also sputum specimen.

sputum

[spu´tum]

mucous secretion from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea that is ejected through the mouth, in contrast to saliva, which is the secretion of the salivary glands. Called also expectoration.

induced sputum a sputum specimen produced for diagnostic tests by aerosol administration of a hypertonic saline solution.

sputum specimen a sample of mucous secretion from the bronchi and lungs. The specimen may be examined microscopically for the presence of malignant cells (cytologic examination) or tested to identify pathogenic bacteria (bacteriologic examination). It is essential that the specimen obtained be mucus from the lungs and bronchi and not saliva. For those unable to produce sputum for examination, an aerosol may be used to increase the flow of secretions and stimulate coughing. The optimum time for collection of a sputum specimen is in the morning before eating or drinking anything. At this time secretions accumulated in the bronchi through the night are more readily available, and, should the coughing produce gagging, the patient is less likely to vomit if the stomach is empty. Specimens collected for bacteriologic culture must be placed in a sterile container and handled with care to avoid contamination from sources other than the sputum.

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References in periodicals archive

Collect sputum specimens on 3 different days for AFB smear and mycobacterial culture.

Update: Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for Tuberculosis

Two (2) sets of morning sputum specimens (3-5 ml each) at 30 minutes intervals were collected from each participant for the study since sputum is best collected in the morning soon after the patient wakes up and before any antiseptic mouth-wash use.

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Charcoal Producers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kaase, Ghana

(17) Briefly, for each sputum specimen panels of four screw capped round bottom borosilicate glass tubes (Himedia, Mumbai) were used.

Isoniazid and rifampin drug susceptibility testing: application of 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay and microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility assay directly on Ziehl-Neelsen smear positive sputum specimens

Although obtaining an induced sputum specimen is a simple and well-tolerated procedure, [14] it needs to be conducted by a trained healthcare worker.

Diagnosing childhood pulmonary tuberculosis using a single sputum specimen on Xpert MTB/RIF at point of care

On obtaining a fresh sputum specimen from these 17 contacts 2(12%) were found negative for both ZN smear and GeneXpert MTB leaving 15(88%) TB positive contacts.

Active Case Detection Among Household Contacts of Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in a Tertiary Care Setting

Processing of sputum specimen followed by culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) is essential to diagnose drug resistance [9].

Rapid detection of rifampicin and isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using genotype MTBDRplus assay in Nepal

The sputum samples were collected as early morning sputum specimen after deep cough, one at the premises of the hospital and the other on the next early morning.

Identification of Bovine and Human Tuberculosis in AFB Positive and Negative Patients

Each sputum specimen was first examined microscopically in a direct smear prepared from the untreated specimen and then in a smear made from a centrifuged concentrated deposit obtained after the specimen was treated and homogenized (Fig.

Comparison of a novel bilayered medium with the conventional media for cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

An early morning sputum specimen was sent for TB assessment and all samples were negative for acid-fast bacilli.

Diagnosing multiple opportunistic infections: the value of a liver biopsy

Patients with more than 3% eosinophils in the induced sputum specimen or with a positive MPT received a 1-week prescription for inhaled budesonide 160 mcg twice daily and inhaled formoterol (Symbicort) 4.5 mcg twice daily.

A cheaper, faster way to resolve chronic cough: "presumed diagnosis" strategy offers early treatment, a cost savings, and >90% treatment response

The essential components of the TB control plan included in the SOC are those elements that address the administration of anti-TB drugs, patient response to treatment, collecting sputum specimen, maintaining respiratory isolation, discharge requirements, and patient education .

The integration of a tuberculosis control plan into a standard of care for tuberculosis

In the study reported here the patients were not fasted prior to the induced sputum specimen collection and a single sample was obtained using an ordinary ward nebulizer.

Lung cancer in elderly patients: the role of induced sputum production to obtain a cytological diagnosis