It amazes me how many, physicians included, who don’t know the protocol for sputem collection. Early on, I had to have bronchoscopy ($10,000 to Medicare) so my pulmonologist could get a good sample. National Jewish has a detailed protocol on their website, using Albuterol, 7% saline, nebulizer and “huff” breathing. 3-5 ml. is all the lab needs, which is all I can ever produce anyway.