Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Organization:	Alberta Precision Laboratories

Test Name/Synonym:	Sputum Culture, Routine (Synonym: Bacterial Pneumonia, Respiratory Culture, Endotracheal Aspirate)
Test Includes:	Gram stain and aerobic culture
LABID (Connect Care):	LAB900

Specimen Type:	Sputum Aspirate
Specimen Source:	Sputum, Expectorated Sputum, Induced Endotracheal tube aspirate
Primary Container:	Sterile plastic container (orange lid)
Specimen Collection Requirements:	Collection Instructions: Collect an early morning specimen – before breakfast Instruct the patient not to brush their teeth, use mouthwash or gargle before the sputum collection. They may rinse their mouth with sterile water. Instruct the patient to cough deeply and cough the sputum directly into the sterile container provided. Patient should then replace the container lid and close securely, ensuring the container does not leak and the lid is not cross-threaded. See also: Sputum Culture Collection PX26-01.750
Test Resources:	Order in Connect Care, or use Community Microbiology Requisition - 20571
Stability and Storage:	Specimen can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 hours. If receipt in testing laboratory will be delayed beyond 2 hours, specimen should be refrigerated.
Testing Area:	Microbiology

Performing Site:	Chinook Regional Hospital Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Northern Lights Regional Hospital Red Deer Regional Hospital
Additional Test Information:	Swabs are not acceptable and will not be processed. Specimen will be rejected if: Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen/requisition Leaking specimen Sputum samples heavily contaminated with saliva If more than one specimen is received on the same day, only one is processed. Note: If the patient is at risk for dimorphic/endemic fungi or invasive mold infection, collect a specimen for fungal culture as per Fungal Culture, Sputum

Last Updated On:	Friday, September 19, 2025

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