Procedure
- First morning specimen prior to eating or drinking is preferred.
- Remove any dentures, gargle with water and rinse mouth.
- Cough deeply to produce a specimen of sputum into the container provided.
- Ensure specimen is sputum, not saliva. Saliva only is not acceptable. Saliva is a clear fluid from the mouth.
- Screw the lid firmly onto the container to avoid spillage.
- Write your surname, first given name, date of birth and time and date of collection on the container.
- Take the specimen to an Australian Clinical Labs Collection Centre as soon as possible on the day of collection.
- The collection staff are required to check your details (surname, first given name, date of birth and date and time of collection on the container label) against the pathology request form to ensure the sample is matched to the doctor’s request. This is done to ensure the safety and security of reporting your test results.