Specimens that will be sent to the laboratory can be obtained in several ways. Usually, patients who are suspected of having pulmonary TB disease simply cough up sputum (phlegm from deep in the lungs) into a sterile container for processing and examination. This is the least expensive and easiest procedure. A health care worker should coach and directly supervise the patient when sputum is collected. Patients who are not supervised are not always successful in providing an adequate specimen, especially in their first attempt.

Patients should have at least three sputum specimens examined. It is best to try and get the specimens early in the morning. If a patient cannot cough up sputum on his or her own, other techniques can be used to obtain a specimen.

It is very important for health care workers to use infection control precautions to control the spread of tubercle bacilli during these procedures and any other procedures that may cause persons who have pulmonary TB disease to cough.