Sputum Collection allows researchers to analyse the mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways, which can produce large amounts of useful information into lung disease. Some people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma find it easy to cough this mucus up. For patients who find it difficult to produce a sample then inhaling a salty mist solution for a few minutes sometimes helps. This is called sputum induction as shown in the photograph.
The sample of sputum can then analysed for:
- Inflammation of the airways
- Amount of bacteria
- Amount of viruses
- Biomarkers
