Bronchiectasis and lung infection

So if I ask another doctor to do a sputum test, I don't have to tell him what to look for? I don't have to know all the possible things a sputum should test for? I just say "sputum" and that test will look for everything I need including MAC, NTM, pseudo, rsv, bacteria, hib?

I would just add that the pseudomonas/susceptibility test comes back very quickly - like less than a week as I remember.

As @sueinmn writes: “ A sputum culture means they do 2 specific tests on your sputum in your usual lab - to check for the presence of mycobacteria. My lab also tests for staph and strep at the same time. If either NTM or Pseudo is found, the specimen is sent to a specialty lab to be grown in an incubator for up to 8 weeks. This will show exactly what "bug" it is, and then they test to see which antibiotics have an effect on it. “

It really illustrates how the standard of care for patients with Bronchiectasis varies so widely. It is still considered a rare disease though one of the top lung diseases and becoming more prevalent worldwide.

Maybe a memo should go out to pulmonologists who refuse sputum tests. I thought only people like my own doctor who knew nothing of the chronic condition took those decisions.

It is such a relatively easy test for many to achieve and so critical to proper diagnosis for antibiotics, at a time when we really want to target antibiotic use.

My pulmonologist has me keep a sputum container on hand in case I get sick and I send it for culture.

You can also buy them online to have them on hand. I got mine on Amazon.

Who needs to buy them? Our lab hands me as many as I ask for. They are the same sealed, sterile containers used for other specimens.

Who needs to buy what? The sputum cups? The question was how to purchase the sputum tests not cups. The doctor won't order so the question was, where to get a lab that will do it at patients cost. 🙂

@magwil01 Where are you located, in the US or elsewhere?

Actually, there are 2 tests that need to be ordered, the sputum test and the followup culture. The first can be performed in most labs, but the second is performed in labs specially set up to incubate the culture in specific medium for 4 - 8 weeks, then to take the next step and see which antibiotics the mycobacteria is susceptible to.
Some PCP's may be familiar with this, especially those who have a wide-ranging practice - such as in rural areas where they see "everyone for everything". But, professionals who see a limited class of patients, and refer complex cases to specialists, may not be as familiar.

Sputum cultures test for what you list except RSV which is a virus. The lab knows what to do. Any bacteria detected grows pretty quickly 2-3 days with NTM/MAC taking 8 weeks.