Sputum fungal smear

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Sputum test

A sputum fungal smear is a laboratory test that looks for fungus in a sputum sample. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when you cough very deeply.

KOH test; Fungal smear - sputum; Fungal wet prep; Wet prep - fungal

A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any material that comes up from your lung into a special container.

The sample is sent to a lab. A small amount is lightly smeared onto a microscope slide and mixed with potassium hydroxide (KOH). The slide is examined under the microscope and checked for fungus parts.

There is no special preparation.

There is no discomfort.

Your doctor may order this test if you have abnormal sputum production or signs of a lung infection.

Review Date: 12/01/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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