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Table 1 Sputum cytology analysis definitions [8]

From: Direct microscopy versus sputum cytology analysis and bleach sedimentation for diagnosis of tuberculosis: a prospective diagnostic study

 

Definition

Saliva

Presence of squamous epithelial cells and/or dark patches; absence of particulate material, absence of significant number of polymorphoneutrophils/macrophages

Mucus

Acellular, defined edges

Degraded sputum

Presence of dark patches of material on ×10 objective which, using ×100 objective, are totally covered with blue-staining non-mycobacterial bacteria; presence of polymorphoneutrophils/macrophages and/or fibrils

Insufficient sputum (good quality, insufficient quantity)

Presence of patches of polymorphoneutrophils/macrophages and/or fibrils, but filling fewer than ten fields when using ×10 objective

"Good/real" sputum (good quality, good quantity)

Presence of ten or more fields of polymorphoneutrophils/macrophages and/or fibrils when using ×10 objective