Sputum Cytology

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.
• Take a blood thinner, or if you have had bleeding problems.
• 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. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?).

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 procedure may be canceled. If your doctor has instructed you to take your medicines on the day of procedure, 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

Home 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. To learn more about how the procedure feels, see the topic Bronchoscopy.

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include a sample that is too small; is dried out; contains only saliva; or is from nasal secretions, not your airway.

What To Think About

• There is a chance of false-negative test results with sputum cytology. This means that the test shows a lung condition is not present when it actually is present. Follow-up testing may need to be done if your symptoms continue.
• A sputum culture is a test to find and identify bacteria or fungi that are infecting the lungs or breathing passages. It is also done to identify the best antibiotic to treat a lung infection. To learn more, see the topic Sputum Culture.
• Bronchoscopy or a needle lung biopsy are more commonly used than sputum cytology because the results provide more information about airway problems.
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Lung Biopsy