Alpha Prolipsis' Medical Services
Your reports will be available within 24 hours of receiving the sample
SPUTUM CYTOLOGY
Sputum cytology examines a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to determine whether abnormal cells are present. Sputum is not the same as saliva. Sputum is produced in the lungs and in the airways leading to the lungs. Sputum has some normal lung cells in it.Sputum cytology may be done to help detect certain noncancerous lung conditions. It may also be done when lung cancer is suspected.
A sputum sample may be collected:
By a person coughing up mucus.
By breathing in a saltwater (saline) mist and then coughing.
During bronchoscopy, which uses a bronchoscope to look at the throat and airway.
Sputum
Collect an early morning deep cough specimen (not just saliva) in a clean, leakproof, rigid container labeled with the patient's name and medical record number. The mouth must be rinsed out thoroughly prior to sputum collection to avoid contamination with food. Specimens must be delivered fresh to the cytology laboratory or refrigerated until delivery. NOTE: In order to assure the maximum diagnostic benefits afforded by sputum cytology, it is essential to submit early morning deep cough specimens. These should be collected for at least 3 consecutive days. The patient should be informed as to the difference between sputum and saliva and instructed to rinse out his mouth first. Outpatients may be provided with containers of fixative in which sputum is to be collected, so that they may collect the samples on 3 days and bring them in all at once without concern for degeneration. Inpatient sputum samples are to be sent fresh to the laboratory, without fixative.
Instructions to Patients for Sputum Cytology:
This is a special test which requires a fresh morning specimen of sputum, collected on three separate days. A separate container of preservative is to be used each day. THE FLUID IN THE CONTAINER IS A TOXIC SOLUTION AND IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
It is essential that you follow the simple instructions given below:
- SPUTUM is the material from deep down in the chest and can ONLY be obtained by deep coughing.
- SALIVA is the watery fluid in the mouth and is not desired in this test.
- POSTNASAL DRAINAGE is the thick material, which may drain down form the nose and collect in the back of the throat, especially during the night. If this is present, it should be cleared from the throat and DISCARDED before collecting the sputum specimen.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- On the morning the specimen is to be collected, before breakfast, clear your throat and discard this material. IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU RINSE OUT YOUR MOUTH WITH WATER FIRST, IF YOU HAVE TAKEN ANYTHING BY MOUTH - such as food, milk, coffee, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc. Do not contaminate specimen with tobacco ashes, Kleenex, etc.
- Breathe deeply 8 to 10 times, cough deeply and expectorate into the container provide. Firmly tighten the lid and shake container vigorously for a few seconds. Collect the sputum obtained this way during the first half-hour. A small amount of sputum will be sufficient for study, IF IT HAS BEEN RAISED FROM DEEP IN THE CHEST. Do not submit a specimen unless you believe it is sputum from deep in the chest.
Instructions to Outpatient Clinic for Sputum Collection:
- Give the patient an instruction sheet and three containers filled with 50 ml. of the fixative provided by cytology (Saccomanno fixative).
- The instruction sheet explains to the patient the method of collection.
- Tell the patient that he/she is to collect three separate sputum specimens at home on three consecutive days and return them to the clinic all together after the third one has been collected.
- Return the containers to the lab with completed pink cytology requisition forms. Be sure each container and requisition has the date of specimen collection.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR BRONCHOSCOPY CYTOLOGY SPECIMENS
Routine Specimen Processing
Bronchoscopy specimens (biopsies, washings, brushings) received in the Cytology Laboratory before 1530 will be processed for reading on the following workday. Specimens on inpatients arriving in Cytology after 1530 (Monday-Friday) will be processed for reading on the following workday only if the necessary laboratory personnel are available. As many specimens as possible will be processed; however, some specimens may have to wait until the next work day for processing. Priority will be given to the biopsy specimens. This late processing is not available on outpatient specimens. To assure next day reading (excluding weekends and holidays) of all submitted specimens, they must arrive in the Cytology Laboratory by 1530 each scheduled workday. If requested, bronchial lavages and biopsies from inpatients that are processed on Friday by the Cytology personnel are read on Saturday morning by the appropriate resident and attending in Surgical Pathology. Results will be called to the clinician when all studies are completed.
Same Day Processing
Same day processing with interpretation is available on regularly scheduled workdays (Monday-Friday, except holidays) for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and bronchial biopsy specimens ONLY for critically ill, respiratory compromised patients (e.g. immunosuppressed or transplant patients in crisis). Specimens collected on weeknights (except Friday) are sent to Central Receiving. They will be delivered and processed the following morning and read by the end of the workday. All specimens MUST arrive in the Cytology Laboratory by 0900 in order to meet processing deadlines. Specimens that arrive after that time will be processed and read the following workday (including Saturday morning reading). The test request form should clearly indicate that Same Day Processing is required, give adequate clinical information about the patient and the specimen, and include the name of the clinician to whom the results should be reported as well as a PIC number or extension where he/she can be reached.
Weekend/Holiday Processing
Bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from critically ill, respiratory compromised patients obtained on weekends (1700 Friday through 0700 Sunday) or on certain holidays will be processed and read by the Anatomic Pathology resident on call. Only specimens that are collected on a day followed by a CLOSED day in the Cytology Laboratory (e.g., Saturday, holiday weekends) will be processed by the resident. Specimens collected on a day followed by an OPEN day in Cytology (e.g. Sunday) will NOT be processed by the resident. They will be handled by the Cytology staff on the following workday (refer to instructions for same day processing previously discussed).
The clinician performing the bronchoscopy should notify the Anatomic Pathology resident on call (PIC 1264) as soon as the decision to do the procedure is made regardless of when the procedure will actually be performed. This will allow the resident to make the necessary arrangements for the processing and interpretation of the material. After the specimen is collected, it should be delivered directly to the Anatomic Pathology resident. Do NOT deliver the specimens to Central Receiving unless directed to do so by the Anatomic Pathology resident.
Each specimen must be accompanied by a separate test request form with complete patient information and clinical data recorded on it. The form should also indicate the name of the clinician to whom the results should be reported and a PIC number or extension where he/she can be reached. Results on all specimens will be telephoned to the appropriate clinician as soon as all studies are completed.
Bronchial biopsy specimens are NOT typically processed on weekends and holidays. They will be handled by the Cytology Laboratory staff on the next scheduled workday (refer to instructions for same day processing). However, they can be processed in cases of extreme critical need. Discuss the case with the AP Resident on-call (PIC 1264).
Health Tips
what is sputum cytology ?
Sputum cytology examines a sample of sputum (mucus) under a microscope to determine whether abnormal cells are present. Sputum is not the same as saliva. Sputum is produced in the lungs and in the airways camera.gif leading to the lungs. Sputum has some normal lung cells in it.
Sputum cytology may be done to help detect certain noncancerous lung conditions. It may also be done when lung cancer is suspected.
A sputum sample may be collected:
By a person coughing up mucus.
By breathing in a saltwater (saline) mist and then coughing.
During bronchoscopy, which uses a bronchoscope to look at the throat and airway.
Why It Is Done ?
Sputum cytology is done to find:
Lung cancer. But sputum cytology is not used as a screening test for people at risk for developing lung cancer, such as smokers.
Noncancerous lung conditions, such as pneumonia or inflammatory diseases, tuberculosis, or the buildup of asbestos fibers in the lungs (asbestosis).
How To Prepare ?
Home or office sample
No special preparation is required if the sputum sample is to be collected at home or in your doctor's office.
Bronchoscopy sample
Before you have bronchoscopy to collect a sputum sample, tell your doctor if you:
Are taking any medicines.
Have allergies to any medicines, including anesthetics.
Have any bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), or warfarin (Coumadin).
Are or might be pregnant.
If you have a bronchoscopy, you will be asked to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of the test and agree to have it done.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean.
Your doctor will tell you how soon before the procedure to stop eating and drinking. Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking, or your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor has instructed you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, please do so using only a sip of water.
Arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure.
How It Is Done ?
Home or office sample
Three sputum samples are usually collected over 3 days. Your doctor will give you a container to collect the sputum. This container may have a small amount of liquid (called fixative) in it. The fixative helps preserve the sample. Do not drink this liquid.
For best results, collect the sample in the morning right after waking up. Follow these steps:
If you wear dentures, remove them before collecting the sample.
Rinse your mouth with water.
Take about four deep breaths followed by a few short coughs, then inhale deeply and cough forcefully into the container. Sputum is not the same as saliva, so make sure to get a sample of mucus from deep in your airway. Collecting the sample in the morning, when you first wake up, is generally best.
If you have trouble obtaining a good sample, try taking a hot shower first to help loosen the mucus in your airway.
Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about where to deliver the sample. You may be instructed to take the sample to the doctor's office or to a laboratory. Deliver the sample soon after you obtain it. You may be instructed to refrigerate the sample if you are not able to deliver it immediately.
Bronchoscopy sample
During bronchoscopy, a thin, lighted instrument (bronchoscope) is inserted through the nose or mouth into the throat and then into the airways leading to the lungs. To learn more about how the procedure is done, see the topic Bronchoscopy.
How It Feels
Ηome or office sample
If you have discomfort when taking a deep breath or coughing, getting a sputum sample may be uncomfortable.
Bronchoscopy sample
You may be able to feel pressure in your airway as the bronchoscope is moved from place to place. You may gag or cough. If you have general anesthesia, you will feel nothing during the procedure. To learn more about how the procedure feels, see the topic Bronchoscopy.
Risks
Home or office sample
There is no risk linked with collecting a sputum sample at home or at your doctor's office.
Bronchoscopy sample
Bronchoscopy is generally a safe procedure. Although complications are rare, you should discuss the risks in your particular case with your doctor. Complications that may occur include:
Spasms of the bronchial tubes. These can impair breathing.
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Infection, such as pneumonia. These usually can be treated with antibiotics.
Results
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look at your airway through a thin viewing instrument called a bronchoscope. Your doctor may discuss your results with you soon after the procedure. Test results on any biopsy samples are usually available in 2 to 4 days.
Bronchoscopy
Normal:
The large airway leading to the lungs and the breathing tubes in the lungs appear normal. There are no objects, thick secretions, or growths.
Abnormal:
An object, thick secretions, or growths are blocking your airway.
Tissue sample shows a lung infection or disease, such as tuberculosis or lung cancer.
What Affects the Test
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
A problem that limits your ability to extend your neck.
A biopsy sample that is too small for a diagnosis.
Also, a biopsy collects tissue from such a small area, so there is a chance that a cancer may be missed.
What To Think About
Before a final diagnosis is made, the results of a bronchoscopy will be considered along with your medical history, physical examination, and the results of other tests including a chest X-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan. A lung biopsy may be needed when all of these other results are inconclusive.
Chest X-Ray
CT Scan of the Body
Lung Biopsy
A needle biopsy with a CT scan is commonly used because it can diagnose many lung problems. A bronchoscopy may be a better option when the problem is close to the airway. Your doctor will determine the best method for you.
Virtual bronchoscopy uses a CT scan to provide a picture of the throat and airways. It does not require the placement of a bronchoscope down the throat.
Bronchoscopy methods that use ultrasound and other technologies can help diagnose and treat more problems than standard bronchoscopy. But these methods may not be available everywhere.
