Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Sputum; first-morning,
expectorated

Container/Tube: Clean, wide mouth,
leakproof container with equal or more amount of CytoLyt
fixative

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 3
mL

Collection Instructions: 

1. Instruct patient, upon awakening and before eating, to cough
deeply from diaphragm and expectorate deep sputum and not
saliva.

2. Label container with patient’s full name, date of
birth, date of collection, and source of specimen.

3. Send specimen with completed requisition to the laboratory
immediately at ambient temperature. If not fixed in CytoLyt
solution, send specimen refrigerated.

Additional Information: Causes for
rejection include inadequate specimen identification or prior
fixation in alcohol or formalin.

Forms: Pathology requisition; include
patient’s full name, date of birth, specimen source, date of
service, and pertinent clinical history. Also, indicate request to
evaluate for Pneumocystis carinii or fungal disease.