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Airway cultures

For non-sputum producers

All cough swabs taken at clinic appointments or during exacerbations or at annual review should be sent for:

• respiratory culture
• cepacia culture
• fungal culture

NTM will not grow from cough swabs, so there is no point in requesting this test. If NTM is suspected, either an induced sputum or bronchoscopy BAL sample will must be obtained

For sputum producers

Routine sputum taken at clinic appointments should be sent for:

• respiratory culture
• cepacia culture
• fungal culture
• NTM culture - to be done at least every 6 months in stable patients, and at every visit in those with loss of lung function

Sputum taken during exacerbations should be sent for:

• respiratory culture
• cepacia culture
• fungal culture
• NTM culture