Effect of storage and postage on recovery and quantitation of bacteria in sputum samples.

Anita Pye, Susan Hill, Pratibha Bharadwa, Robert Stockley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

AIMS The aims of the study were to compare bacterial recovery following storage of sputum samples at 20 degrees C room temperature and 4 degrees C (refrigerated) for 24 h, and to determine the effect of postage on viable bacterial numbers. METHODS A total of 38 individual sputum samples from clinically stable patients with bronchiectasis were split into three equal aliquots and quantitative bacterial culture was performed (i) immediately, (ii) following storage at 4 degrees C for 24 h or (iii) following storage at 20 degrees C for 24 h. A further 42 sputum samples were split into two equal aliquots and quantitative bacterial culture was performed either immediately or following postage back to the laboratory by first-class mail from an outside location. RESULTS The predominant organism could still be recovered following storage at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C, but viable numbers were significantly reduced following storage at 4 degrees C (p
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)352-4
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Clinical Pathology
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2008

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