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How long does it take for MAC to be diagnosed
MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
It's that woman from OKC again Sue.
Since we are talking about sputum cultures I have a question for your thoughts.
When I have given sputum cultures at NJH I was unable to give anything other than a speciment vile of three layers. Top white foamy bubbly, middle clear looking, bottom somewhat clear that appeared to have white specs and maybe a spec of yellow green. I just sent the same type of specimen culture to UT Tyler since that is where I will be going from hereon due to it being closer to OKC.
Question/Your Thoughts: If there is no yellow/green or deeply colored sputum do you think they can truly test for all types of infections/bacteria????
Replies to "It's that woman from OKC again Sue. Since we are talking about sputum cultures I have..."
My sputum sample was so small I was afraid that there would not be enough to culture. But they were able to use it to test for everything. I have gotten the results on everything but MAC... I am told that it takes a bit longer to culture.
I am about 8 weeks in
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If there is actual sputum in the culture, and not just saliva, it really doesn't matter what it looks like. After six months of medication, my cultures were completely transparent in color, but still positive for MAC.
I don't know what the culture results would be now, after 4 years of saline. My doc says as long as my sputum stays clear and I am completely asymptomatic we will not do another culture. I'm not sure other docs would agree, but she has been helpful to me in getting my asthma under control (that was a 20+ year struggle) and doesn't hesitate to return my calls and discuss any concerns.
Sue