BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSputum fungal smear KOH test; Fungal smear - sputum; Fungal wet prep; Wet prep - fungalA 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 deeply. How the Test is Performed A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any material that comes up from your lungs into a special container.The sample is sent to a lab and examined under a microscope. How to Prepare for the Test There is no special preparation. How the Test will Feel There is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Your health care provider may order this test if you have symptoms or signs of a lung infection, such as if you have a weakened immune system due to certain medicines or diseases such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. CancerCancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results A negative result means no fungus was seen in the test sample. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be a sign of a fungal infection. Such infections include:Aspergillosis AspergillosisAspergillosis is an infection or allergic response due to the aspergillus fungus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blastomycosis BlastomycosisBlastomycosis is an infection caused by breathing in the Blastomyces dermatitidis fungus. The fungus is found in decaying wood and soil.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Coccidioidomycosis CoccidioidomycosisValley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cryptococcosis CryptococcosisCryptococcosis is infection with the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HistoplasmosisHistoplasmosisHistoplasmosis is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks associated with a sputum fungal smear.Open ReferencesReferencesBanaei N, Deresinski SC, Pinsky BA. Microbiologic diagnosis of lung infection. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 19.Saullo JL, Alexander BD. Fungal infections: opportunistic. In: Broaddus VC, King TE, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 57.AllVideoImagesTogSputum test - illustration A sputum sample is obtained by coughing deeply and expelling the material that comes from the lungs into a specimen container. The sample is transferred to a slide and examined under a microscope. A positive result indicates a fungal infection in the lungs.Sputum testillustrationFungus - illustration Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can live on the skin. They can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers.FungusillustrationSputum test - illustration A sputum sample is obtained by coughing deeply and expelling the material that comes from the lungs into a specimen container. The sample is transferred to a slide and examined under a microscope. A positive result indicates a fungal infection in the lungs.Sputum testillustrationFungus - illustration Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can live on the skin. They can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers.Fungusillustration Tests for Sputum fungal smear Sputum fungal smear Related Information Valley fever(Condition)Eosinophil count - absolute(Medical Test)Simple pulmonary eosinophilia(Condition) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Sputum fungal smear KOH test; Fungal smear - sputum; Fungal wet prep; Wet prep - fungalA 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 deeply. How the Test is Performed A sputum sample is needed. You will be asked to cough deeply and spit any material that comes up from your lungs into a special container.The sample is sent to a lab and examined under a microscope. How to Prepare for the Test There is no special preparation. How the Test will Feel There is no discomfort. Why the Test is Performed Your health care provider may order this test if you have symptoms or signs of a lung infection, such as if you have a weakened immune system due to certain medicines or diseases such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. CancerCancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.Read Article Now Book Mark Article HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Normal Results A negative result means no fungus was seen in the test sample. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be a sign of a fungal infection. Such infections include:Aspergillosis AspergillosisAspergillosis is an infection or allergic response due to the aspergillus fungus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blastomycosis BlastomycosisBlastomycosis is an infection caused by breathing in the Blastomyces dermatitidis fungus. The fungus is found in decaying wood and soil.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Coccidioidomycosis CoccidioidomycosisValley fever is an infection that occurs when the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis enter your body through the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cryptococcosis CryptococcosisCryptococcosis is infection with the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HistoplasmosisHistoplasmosisHistoplasmosis is an infection that occurs from breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks associated with a sputum fungal smear.Open ReferencesReferencesBanaei N, Deresinski SC, Pinsky BA. Microbiologic diagnosis of lung infection. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 19.Saullo JL, Alexander BD. Fungal infections: opportunistic. In: Broaddus VC, King TE, Ernst JD, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 57.