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Sputum Test submissions and outcome results
August 2022 diagnosed with BE via C Scan...no sputum test suggested or understood that I should have it tested.
Oct. 2023 self-referred and diagnosed with MAI while at NJH. Sputum tests at NJH indicated low load of MAI. I was told to do watchful waiting by NJH pulmonologist.
Began and doing Nebulizing and all Air Way Clearance methods since Oct. 2023.
I am still on and continue with watchful waiting.
Once, recently, in 2025 and now in 2026 Sputum Test results have come back twice indicating negative for bacteria growth and all other came back positive for MAI. I just received today...no bacteria growth.
I wonder if it is there in the lungs, the MAI, but in such a small amount or down deep in the lungs, hiding and will sometimes pop its 'head' up and other times so little that does not come up and therefore does not show in the testing ???? I have been sending the sputum for testing nearly every month to stay on top of what is or might be there or if to see there is anything new.
So without antibiotics due to original low load MAI I thankfully have felt fine all along and weight is stable.
Do many of you, others, have sputum test results come back positive, negative, positive, negative results?
Have any of you had this experience and has a doctor given their thoughts to you about why this can/does happen?
Barbara
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You have read my mind. I have wondered the same thing. November 2024 to April 2025 was testing positive for MABC. April 2025 count was super low and NJH took me off the antibiotics I had just started 3 weeks prior (ordered by local). Count was about 30 and NJH told me over 400 is high. Then negatives up through August 2025 cultures. November 2025, I got a positive but count was only 22. That is super low. I also wondered if it's original infection just so deep down there (covered by macrophages) or was it because of an environmental exposure? Just sent in January 26 sample and so far nothing growing as of today, which leads me to another question. NTMs and MTB are gram positive rods, which have appeared in the microscopic analyses when I test positive for NTM but do not show up in when I have tested negative. So wondering if I can predict whether or not the culture would be positive or not? Or at least the AFB smear.