What is a sputum examination?
Barry Make, MD — Sputum is the material one coughs up and out of the mouth. It may come from the lungs or possibly from the sinuses. Sputum is produced in the air passages of the lungs and is part of the bodies natural defense mechanism. Many kinds of sputum examinations are possible and look for potential organisms that might need to be treated such astuberculosis and tuberculosis-like bacteria, fungi, etc. Also a sputum examination can be done looking for abnormal cells that might indicate a lung cancer.
