Admin_NHT Staff asked 6 years ago Sputum Evaluation, or Sputum Induction, is done on individual who cannot spontaneously produce sputum. This is a test that gives an indication for pulmonary tuberculosis (pulmonary TB). The test is simple and non-invasive, and it often tells if a further bronchoscopy is need or not. During the procedure the patient is made to inhale a nebulised hypertonic saline solution which help liquefying the airway secretions leading to minor coughing. As the secretions are liquefied, the secretions are expelled as droplets while coughing. The test is continuing until 1-2ml of sputum is collects or the patient has been nebulised for 15 minutes. The collected sputum is then sent to the pathology lab for further testing.The procedure may be stopped mid-way of the patient starts feeling dizzy or experiences tightness in the chest. In this case, the test is then deemed unsuccessful. Since this procedure is a test for detecting TB, extreme precautions are taken, and the person is not allowed to leave the room until he has stopped coughing in order to not put other personnel at risk of contracting TB.