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Can sputum test be accurate if 3 days on antibiotic??

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Feb 10 9:22am | Replies (6)
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@sueinmn

Hi Faye - I for one, would be inclined to question those results. It sounds like they didn't send it for a culture after the looked at it on a lab slide. Three days might be enough to affect the quick look, but not the culture. Second, did they have you send one specimen, or more? Our lab always tests 3, taken one day apart, to be sure they have a quality specimen.
What does the pulmonologist say?
Sue

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Replies to "Hi Faye - I for one, would be inclined to question those results. It sounds like..."
fdixon63 | @fdixon63 | Feb 8 9:08am

Hi Sue. Yes I felt this was not a way to get an accurate test results. I mailed the sputum overnight on a Monday and they said the results was on that Friday so it sounds like the did a 3-day culture. They did not say anything about submitting more sputums. I'm OK with the way I'm "feeling" so have not pushed them with further questions, etc. My next scheduled appt is late April so my plan is that if I continue to feel this good (not coughing up any sputum of color) I'll just see them and be evaluated at that time. I'm also schedule for a CT and PFT at that appt. Of course, if my symptoms change, I'll contact them. I've been somewhat disappointed on how they test sputum. At Emory Atlanta they always gave pseudomonas a rating from a plus 1 to plus 4. UAB Birmingham might say "numerous." They don't even tell me that unless I press for it. Your question "what does the pulmonologist say" is basically what I've included here. Thanks Sue for your feedback. Always welcomed. Faye

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