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( Sputum)
Sputum is matter that is expectorated from the respiratory tract, such as mucus or phlegm, mixed with saliva, which can then be spat from the mouth. It is usually associated with air passages in diseased lungs, bronchi, or upper respiratory tract. It can be found to contain blood if in a chronic cough possibly from severe cases of tuberculosis. A sputum sample is the name given to the mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways. It is usually used for microbiological investigations of respiratory infections.[1] The best sputum samples contain very little saliva[2], as this contaminates the sample with oral bacteria.This event is assessed by the clinical microbiologist by examining a Gram stain of the Sputum. More than 25 squamous epithelial cells at low enlargment indicates salivary contamination When a sputum specimen is plated out, it is best to get the portion of the sample that most looks like pus onto the swab[citation needed]. If there is any blood in the sputum, this should also be on the swab.
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