Origin of morning sputum - Submit sputum
July 7, 2016 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med Ralf von Seckendorff
Question to an ENT and/or pulmonologist.
Hello,
I would like to send my dark yellow (purulent) morning sputum to a lab.
1. Is it possible to do this without the involvement of a doctor on a private bill? If so, where can this be done and what container do I need for it?
2. How can one determine exactly where the sputum comes from, either from 1. the throat/bronchi/lungs or 2. from above the nose/sinuses, etc.?
I only have purulent sputum in the mornings and I only breathe through my mouth at night.. 25 years old..
Good day,
I am a general practitioner with experience in pulmonology clinics.
1.) In principle, private services are possible in any larger laboratory in your area, where they will provide you with a suitable container in advance. However, the diagnostic value/"hit rate" of such sputum tests is limited, as the correct bacteria may not always be captured, and the results may also be distorted by normal throat flora. Your general practitioner can also easily send it in for testing.
2.) If the symptoms only occur in the morning, it is very likely that they originate from reflux from the nose/sinuses. In this case, it would be best for you to see an ENT specialist for a more detailed examination to determine if there is an issue in the nasal/sinus area. If nothing is found, the next step would be to consider the bronchi/lungs themselves through exclusion. The next tests may include a chest X-ray, a lung function test (body plethysmography). Ultimately, if the previous steps do not provide sufficient clarity, a bronchoscopy may be necessary to obtain deeper secretions to identify the responsible bacteria.
Best regards.
