Sputum sample drop off protocol

Posted by kdiago1564 @kdiago1564, Oct 9 6:45am

Hello!

For all of you who provide regular sputum samples to your doctor/lab. When you produce the sample, do you need need to keep it cool during transport or is that not a concern?

My 3yo brought home a cold, which I got. Last time I got COVID in June, it turned into the h. flu and required antibiotics so I'm doing my 7% saline + Aerobika 2x a day, Flonase, Mucinex and Vit-D. So far my mucus is clear to pale yellow but getting more of it. Hoping this doesn't turn into something but seems like the right thing would be to drop off a sample in the next few days in any case.

Thanks all!
Kate

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 9 10:56am

@kdiago1564 Hello - The answer is "it depends" - my lab is 15 minutes from home, so I don't worry about keeping it cool. However, when I was in Texas and had to submit one, it was 45 minutes to the lab and the temps were in the 90's - I put it in a small cooler with an icepack.

Yes, when you have any kind of easy to bring up sputum, it's a good time to bring a specimen.