| sputum for acid-fast organisms | A special microscopic slide that is prepared to detect the presence of acid-fast bacilli. The diagnosis of tuberculosis can be made using this test. If the sputum specimen shows the acid fast organism a sputum culture (for Mycobacterium) is then performed. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| sputum smear | A group of cytologic specimens containing material from the lower respiratory tract and consisting mainly of sputum (spontaneous, induced) and material obtained at bronchoscopy (aspirated, lavaged, brushed); used for cytologic study of cancer and other diseases of the lungs. Synonym: bronchoscopic smear, sputum smear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nummular sputum | A thick, coherent mass expectorated in globular shape which does not run at the bottom of the cup but forms a discoid mass resembling a coin. Synonym: globular sputum. (05 Mar 2000) |