Collecting a Sputum Sample

Good quality sputum specimensPatient and staff safety

Preparing to get a sputum sample

The nurse explains to Mercy why she needs a sputum sample

Why are two sputum specimens needed?

• Two samples help ensure patients found to be positive for TB are not missed.– Initial specimen – positive for 83-87% of all

patients– Second specimen- positive for 10-12% of all

patients

Mercy rinses her mouth before the sputum sample is collected

Picture 4 – Mercy and HCP are standing in front of a window

Nurse demonstrates how to cough for a sputum

Ensuring privacy and ventilation

Infection control precautions: handling the specimen

The specimen

Addressing Mercy’s anxieties