Respiratory: Collecting a sputum specimen (for nursing assistant training)

Sometimes, the clients you care for may have respiratory complaints. A healthcare provider may order a sputum specimen for a client they suspect may have a respiratory infection, such as pneumonia or other respiratory illnesses, like lung cancer.

A nurse may delegate collection of the sputum specimen to a nursing assistant. A sputum specimen is simply a sample of sputum from a particular client.

Sputum, sometimes referred to as “phlegm,” is made up of mucus as well as some other respiratory secretions that can be coughed up, or expectorated, from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea.

If a client is coughing or spitting up blood, or sputum that contains blood, that’s called hemoptysis, where “hemo-” refers to blood, and “-ptysis” refers to spitting up.

Now, before collecting a sputum specimen, there are a few things you should keep in mind and a few supplies you’ll need to gather and prepare.

Coughing up or spitting up mucus into a cup can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing for a client.

So, it’s important you ensure client privacy and comfort as much as possible throughout the duration of the procedure.

Be sure you’re collecting sputum, which is produced in the respiratory tract, and not saliva or spit, which is produced in the mouth.

The supplies you’ll need are clean gloves, a small cup of water, an emesis basin, a sterile specimen container with its lid, facial tissues, disinfectant wipes, client identification labels, the laboratory requisition form, and a small biohazard plastic bag.

All right, first, wash your hands, put on some clean gloves, and greet the client. Identify them using two identifiers: usually their full name and birth date, being sure to check that information against the client’s identification bracelet, labels, and laboratory requisition form.

Next, provide the client with a small cup of water to rinse their mouth in order to clear away any microbes that may be present in their mouth; ask them to spit into an emesis basin after rinsing.

Be sure to avoid using mouthwash as it may kill microbes in the sputum and, consequently, lead to inaccurate test results.