A sputum culture is a sample of the gooey substance that often comes up from your chest when you have an infection in your lungs or airways. It is mostly made up of white blood cells that fight ...

Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is an illness that affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. TB can spread when a person with the illness coughs, ...

What is a sputum Gram’s stain? A sputum Gram’s stain is a laboratory test that allows your doctor to diagnose a bacterial infection in your respiratory tract. They may order it if you have symptoms of ...

When you have a respiratory tract infection or a lung-related disorder, your lungs produce a thick substance known as sputum. This substance can make it hard to breathe, cause coughing, and harbor ...