NEWS WAVE INDIA: Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata today announced the launch of Induced Sputum Lab and becomes the first hospital in private healthcare space in Eastern India to bring in Induced Sputum Cell Count, an astounding diagnostic modality for treating lung diseases. It would be highly beneficial for patients suffering from severe asthma.

Induced Sputum Cell count is a noninvasive method that primarily identifies type of inflammation associated with severe asthma thus making the introduction of appropriate treatment more precisely. Without the Sputum Cell count the presence and type of airway inflammation can be difficult to detect which can delay the proper treatment.

Induced sputum cell counts evaluate the presence, type, and degree of inflammation in the airways of the lungs. It is a procedure used for patients who have trouble producing sputum spontaneously, by helping them to cough up secretions. This is done by creating extra moisture in the airways of the lungs, which loosens and thins out secretion so that coughing out sputum is easy.

The sputum induction test is a painless procedure. It involves breathing in different concentrations of saline (mild salty water) through a nebuliser and then carrying out cough-like movements to produce a sample of sputum. The nebulised hypertonic saline solution inhaled by the patient liquefies airway secretions, promotes coughing and allows expectoration of respiratory secretions.

Present at the occasion, Dr Saibal Moitra, Adjunct Professor and Senior Consultant-Allergy & Immunology, Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata said “Induced Sputum cell counts have the advantage of providing information about the cellular nature of inflammation in patients with severe asthma. This aids in treatment decisions. The application of induced sputum in the assessment of airway pathology has grown rapidly.”