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Microbiology Fever & Infection Home collection available

Sputum Culture

Parameters1 tested
SampleSputum
FastingNot required
Report in3-5 days

How to prepare

No fasting needed

You can eat and drink normally before the test.

Good to know

No special preparation needed.

Medicines

Tell our phlebotomist about any medicines you take. Don't stop them without asking your doctor.

Comfortable clothes

Wear a loose sleeve so the sample can be taken easily from your arm.

How it works

Book onlinePick a time slot
Home visitSealed, sterile kit
Lab testingBarcode tracked
ReportIn 3-5 days

About this test

Sputum culture grows bacteria from phlegm coughed up from the lungs to find the germ causing a chest infection and to test which antibiotics will work.

Why is this test done?

  • Find the cause of pneumonia or bronchitis
  • Choose the right antibiotic
  • Chest infections not responding to treatment

Symptoms — when should you get tested?

  • Cough with yellow or green phlegm
  • Fever
  • Breathlessness or chest pain

Normal range

Culture Normal throat flora

Reference ranges differ slightly between labs, methods, age and sex. Always discuss your report with your doctor.

If your result is high

Growth of a disease-causing germ suggests a chest infection caused by it.

Common reasons
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Klebsiella
  • Pseudomonas
  • Staphylococcus aureus

How is the test done?

  1. 1
    Book online

    Choose your slot for home collection or a visit to our centre.

  2. 2
    Cough up sputum

    Early in the morning, after rinsing your mouth, cough deeply and collect the sputum in the sterile container.

  3. 3
    Tested in our lab

    Your barcoded sample is tested on automated machines with strict quality checks.

  4. 4
    Report on WhatsApp

    A pathologist checks the result and the report reaches you on WhatsApp and email.

Frequently asked questions

Early morning, after rinsing your mouth with water, cough deeply and collect phlegm, not saliva.

No fasting is needed for this test. You can eat and drink normally.

Your report is usually ready in 3-5 days after the sample reaches our lab. We send it on WhatsApp and email, and you can also download it from the Reports page.

Please call our team to confirm whether home sample collection is available for your location and test.

This test needs a sputum sample. No special preparation needed.

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