---

• n  expectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishness

• The two pottered around with sputum, acids, dyes and mediums on which bacteria grow.
• Indian Tuberculosis (TB) patients stand in a queue for sputum collection at a Tuberculosis Treatment Centre in New Delhi.
• They also need a better method for treating sputum so it's ready for GCMS analysis.

• phlegm

News & Articles

---

• Tuberculosis diagnostic company aims to develop more accurate TB test
  The World Health Oragnization’s move in 2011 to focus on new diagnostics to diagnose tuberculosis faster and more accurately than the 120+ year old sputum tests has created a rush for diagnostic developers to solve that problem. One company has set about developing a more accurate test that uses proteins to detect active TB antibodies [...]
  July 19, 2013 - MedCity News

Quotes

---

• Colin Pillinger in Telegraph.co.uk
  The problem with TB is diagnosing it,says Prof Pillinger. "At the moment, people can be tested by taking a specimen [usually a sputum sample] but it takes six to eight weeks for a result [an in vitro culture]. There are some faster tests...
• Kishore Kumar in Expressindia.com
  In Pimpri-Chinchwad, out of 634 sputum positive cases at least 94 were detected with HIV,says Dr Kishore Khilare, in-charge of PCMC's TB control unit.