Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test

Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test: quick answers

Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test price

₹949

Done for

Cough with yellow or green phlegm and fever; Pneumonia that is severe or has not improved with antibiotics; Repeated chest infections, bronchiectasis or long-term lung disease

Fasting

Not required

Report

3–5 days

What is the Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test?

A sputum culture and sensitivity test grows bacteria from the phlegm you cough up from your lungs, to find the germ behind a chest infection such as pneumonia. The sensitivity part shows which antibiotics work against that germ. It is a different test from sputum for TB, which needs its own tests.

What your Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test result means

Normal respiratory flora or no pathogen

Only the usual mouth and throat bacteria grew. This is common when the sample is mostly saliva, or when a virus is the cause, and the doctor may ask for a deeper sample.

Pathogen grown with sensitivity

A likely cause of the chest infection was found. The report lists the antibiotics that are sensitive or resistant, and the doctor chooses treatment along with symptoms and a chest X-ray.

Poor-quality sample

Too much saliva and too few cells from the lungs. A fresh sample, coughed up from deep in the chest, is needed.

One result is not a diagnosis. A doctor reads it with your symptoms, history, medicines and other tests.

Why is the Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test done?

• Cough with yellow or green phlegm and fever
• Pneumonia that is severe or has not improved with antibiotics
• Repeated chest infections, bronchiectasis or long-term lung disease
• A worsening of COPD with more or discoloured sputum
• Choosing the right antibiotic when the first one has failed

What does the Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test measure?

1 parameter. Expand a group to see the measurements, units and available method details.

The reference interval printed on your actual laboratory report governs interpretation. Intervals can vary by laboratory, method, age, sex and pregnancy. Methods can also vary by processing laboratory.

Sputum Culture and Sensitivity Test: sample & preparation

Sample: Confirm with the laboratory. Fasting: Not required.

• No fasting is needed. Give an early-morning deep cough sample; rinse your mouth with water first and try not to include saliva.

Frequently asked questions