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Updated: May 24, 2026

Methodology for Sputum Induction and Laboratory Processing
13:28

Methodology for Sputum Induction and Laboratory Processing

Published on: December 17, 2017

Procedures for collection of induced sputum specimens from children

Lindsay R Grant1, Laura L Hammitt, David R Murdoch

  • 1Department of International Health, Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. lhammitt@jhsph.edu

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|March 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Collecting sputum from children with lower respiratory disease is feasible and useful for diagnosis. The Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) study will use induced sputum collection in hospitalized children with severe pneumonia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Sputum is not routinely collected for microbiological diagnosis in children with lower respiratory disease.
  • The Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) study aimed to assess the feasibility and diagnostic utility of sputum collection in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing literature on induced sputum collection procedures in children.
  • To evaluate and recommend a protocol for sputum collection for the PERCH study.

Main Methods:

  • A literature review of induced sputum protocols for children was conducted.
  • Protocols were collated from published reports and expert opinions.
  • An external advisory group compared six protocols, including nebulization with hypertonic saline and chest/abdomen massage techniques.

Main Results:

  • Sputum collection from children with lower respiratory tract illness is feasible globally.
  • An external advisory group recommended sputum collection for hospitalized children with severe and very severe pneumonia in the PERCH study.
  • The PERCH study selected the nebulization technique using hypertonic saline.

Conclusions:

  • Induced sputum collection is a feasible and diagnostically valuable method for children with lower respiratory disease.
  • The PERCH study will implement induced sputum collection using hypertonic saline nebulization for eligible pediatric pneumonia patients.

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