PREPARATION OF SPUTUM SMEAR – Nurse Info PREPARATION OF SPUTUM SMEAR – Sputum, Purpose of Sputum Examination, General Instructions and Procedure (COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING)

PREPARATION OF SPUTUM SMEAR – Sputum, Purpose of Sputum Examination, General Instructions and Procedure (COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING)

UPDATED 2024

A smear is
prepared in a clean slide, spread with thin film of the material to be
examined. In bacteriology, material spread on a surface as a microscopic slide

SPUTUM

Sputum is
material from the mucous lining of the bronchial tubes and trachea. Its consistency
varies from a thin, watery fluid to thick, purulent material, and it has a Ph
of 6.6 to 7.1

PURPOSE OF SPUTUM EXAMINATION

An
examination of sputum is made chiefly to reveal the presence of bacteria.
Bacteria commonly looked for in sputum include those that cause tuberculosis or
pneumonia

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• The most favorable time to collect a
  sputum specimen is early in the morning to avoid having food particles mixed
  with it
• There is more sputum in the morning
  because it has not been coughed up during the night
• The container most commonly used for
  the collection is a disposable plastic cup
• If the sputum is not examined at
  once, sputum is kept at room temperature until it can be examined
• Instruct the patient to wash the
  mouth with plain water few minutes before taking the specimen
• Totally 3 consecutive specimens
  should be taken, spot smear A- 1^st day, early morning B-2^nd
  day and spot smear on next day C-3^rd day

PROCEDURE

• A 24 hours sample is better if not
  overnight sputum in a clean container
• Select a new unscratched slide using
  a broomstick
• Spread sputum on the slide using a
  broomstick
• Allow the slide to air dry for 15-30
  seconds
• Fix the slide by passing it over the
  flame of spirit lamp
• The slide may be wrapped in clean
  paper and sent to the primary health center along with the request