Collecting a sputum sample involves several steps: 1. Preparation: The patient is usually instructed to rinse their mouth with water to reduce contamination by saliva. 2. Deep Coughing: The patient is then asked to take a deep breath and cough deeply to produce sputum from the lungs. 3. Collection: The sputum is collected in a sterile container, ensuring that it does not touch the rim or outside of the container to prevent contamination. 4. Transportation: The sample is promptly sent to the laboratory for analysis.
