Question

2 Describe one more diagnostic test that you could perform on the sputum samples to further confirm your suspicions about the pathogen

Answer 1

Sputum is a thick fluid produced in the lungs and in the adjacent airways.

Sputum is expelled from the lower respiratory tract (bronchi and lungs) through coughing.

Normally, fresh morning sample is usually preferred for the pathogenic examination of sputum.

1) Sputum Culture:

The first step in the analysis of a fresh sputum sample is by performing Gram stain of the sputum to identify the general type of bacteria that may be present and to determine sample adequacy.

If a sample contains a significant number of normal cells that line the mouth (squamous epithelial cells), then the sample is not generally considered adequate for culture so the sample should be recollected from the patient.

Once a sputum sample has been accepted, it is placed on or in appropriate nutrient media and incubated. When a person has a bacterial respiratory infection, there will be both normal flora and pathogens present in the sputum.

Then the technician will identify different types of bacteria present and categorise them as normal flora or a potential pathogen causing an infection.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for various antibiotics is performed to guide the treatment of identified pathogens and to determine the response of pathogens to specific antibiotics.

2) Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs):

Rapid sputum tests are also called as nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs).

Rapid sputum tests can tell if a person has tuberculosis within 24 hours. The NAAT system differs from other tests in that it detects genetic materials rather than antigens or antibodies.