Sputum tests: Problems producing enough sputum

Hi Woot, I think we go to the same DR in NC. Just a heads up! I dropped off a culture there 2 weeks ago and got told a few days later that they did not process it. They told me it should have been on ice when I dropped it off and that the lab is very strict and would not process it. I had kept it refrigerated until I left the house and its about a 45 minute dr.

But would samples from sinuses show Mac?

@woot Hi there! Your sputum sample containing saliva might show MAC, but the lab and doctors want to keep things separate. My ENT at Stanford regularly cultures samples from my sinuses, and I do have colonized m. Abscessus in my sinuses (along with a host of other pathogenic and normal critters.) I’ve never sent a sample from my sinuses in to the lab.

I have MAC in my lungs, too, but hand deliver my own self-induced samples to the lab.

Hi Woot, I think we go to the same DR in NC. Just a heads up! I dropped off a culture there 2 weeks ago and got told a few days later that they did not process it. They told me it should have been on ice when I dropped it off and that the lab is very strict and would not process it. I had kept it refrigerated until I left the house and its about a 45 minute dr.

@woot That post was over a year ago, I would now add while doing the postural drainage lye flat on your back with hips elevated (I use an under mattress wedge for my reflux issue, then lye backwards on the mattress so that my feet are 5" higher than my head). So in this position on my back I self percuss my chest, then roll over on my stomach and get wife to bang on my back. At this point I usually feel a lot of congestion in my upper trachea so I then roll back over and start my huff coughing as in my first post. A lot of detail here but it all works really well for me. Bill

@woot Hi there! Your sputum sample containing saliva might show MAC, but the lab and doctors want to keep things separate. My ENT at Stanford regularly cultures samples from my sinuses, and I do have colonized m. Abscessus in my sinuses (along with a host of other pathogenic and normal critters.) I’ve never sent a sample from my sinuses in to the lab.

I have MAC in my lungs, too, but hand deliver my own self-induced samples to the lab.

Smart ENT to test your sinuses. Eforeci got very sick with M Abscessis I had a very bloody nose for two weeks and horrible headaches….since it was springtime my pulminologist chalked it up to allergies. Knowing I’ve had MAC and a lung cavitation I think he should have been more concerned and taken samples.

Pop, I didn’t see your reply until this morning. At 7:30 am tomorrow I’ll leave home to deliver sample I collect at 6:30. Never would have thought of putting it on ice but now I will do that. I’ll also tell Dr Daniels what the lab told you. Do you think the lab lacks equipment or is incompetent or what? National Jewish and Texas and others can test samples sent through the mail. But it was Rex Hospital lab that didn’t process my last one. We need to find someone who understands these lab processes to explain to us.

I have an appointment with Dr Daniels tomorrow at 11:00, so I plan to just do a culture while I am there tomorrow. The nurse just called me and said for me to do the culture at home rather than to bring one in from home. I would not trust the Rex lab as they reported several of my cultures as Abscessus when they were Avium Complex. Dr Daniels was the one who realized they had made the mistakes. My plan is to keep sending them to National Jewish because they are very detailed. NJ will give you the colony count and the specific bacteria where none of these other labs can do that. I don't believe the lab at UNC gives specifics on the bacteria or colony count. If you are planning to do yours from home just make sure to bring it in on ice and avoid them saying its no good.

If the sinuses can be colonized with NTM is it worthwhile to do daily 7% saline rinses for the nose in addition to the 7% pulmonary nebs? In thinking about the anatomy,
the entire nasal and pulmonary track is lined with respiratory mucosa. Wondering if anyone has seen data on this concept.