In a sputum specimen, testing can reveal the following:
1. **Microbes**: Sputum testing can identify the presence of bacteria, viruses, or fungi that may be causing an infection in the respiratory tract.
2. **Abnormal Cells**: Examination of sputum under a microscope can detect abnormal cells, which could indicate conditions like lung cancer or other respiratory diseases.
However, testing a sputum specimen typically does not detect parasites, blood, or nitrites. Parasites are more commonly identified through stool samples or specific blood tests, while blood and nitrites are usually assessed through urine tests.
