Sputum Cytology

How To Prepare

Home or office sample

No special preparation is required if the sputum sample is to be collected at home or in your doctor's office.

Bronchoscopy sample

Before you have a bronchoscopy to collect a sputum sample, tell your doctor if you:

• Are taking any medications.
• Have allergies to any medications, including anesthetics.
• Have any bleeding problems or take blood thinners, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin).
• Are or might be pregnant.

For a bronchoscopy, you will also be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for this procedure, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

Do not eat or drink for at least 8 to 10 hours before the procedure.

Arrange to have someone drive you home after the procedure

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: March 21, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology
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