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Correlation between rapid strip test and the quality of sputum
Amir Gal-Oz1, Imad Kassis, Hanna Shprecher
1Director, Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, Rambam Medical Center, PO Box 9602, Haifa, Israel.
Chest
|November 13, 2004
Summary
A rapid strip test effectively evaluates sputum quality using specific gravity (SG) > 1.01, offering high sensitivity. This method is a valuable tool for assessing sputum samples when cytology facilities are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Clinical diagnostics
- Microbiology
- Laboratory medicine
Background:
- Sputum quality assessment is crucial for accurate respiratory infection diagnosis.
- Microscopic examination for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and squamous epithelial cells (SECs) is the standard method.
- Limitations exist in resource-limited settings for traditional sputum analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a rapid reagent strip test for quick sputum quality assessment.
- To compare the performance of the strip test against established microscopic criteria for sputum analysis.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, double-blind study involving sputum and saliva samples.
- Sputum quality defined by PMN and SEC counts per low-power field (LPF).
- Comparison of microscopic findings with results from a rapid strip test measuring specific gravity (SG), pH, leukocyte esterase (LE), nitrites, protein, and glucose.
Main Results:
- Specific gravity (SG) emerged as the most effective predictor of sputum quality.
- An SG threshold of > 1.01 demonstrated 86.8% sensitivity and 75.9% specificity for identifying quality sputum.
- Other tested parameters (protein, glucose, LE, pH, nitrites, erythrocytes) showed limited correlation with sputum quality.
Conclusions:
- The rapid reagent strip test, particularly using an SG threshold > 1.01, is a sensitive method for evaluating sputum quality.
- This rapid test offers a practical alternative for sputum quality assessment in settings lacking cytology facilities.