A STUDY OF TECHNIQUES FOR EXAMINATION OF SPUTUM IN A FIELD SURVEY OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS

Abstract

Tryptic digestion is a satisfactory method of preparing sputum for total and differential cell counts. It was not possible to obtain a reliable estimate of the intact and degenerate leukocyte content of specimens by Feulgen-stained preparations. Grades of purulence were established which corresponded well with cell counts except in in the most purulent specimens. By examination of wet smears stained with eosinformalin solution four grades of sputum eosinophilia were recognized. Sputum eosinophilia was found in 39% of the men in the survey who produced sputum. A high degree of eosinophilia (over 60%) was rarely found. The prevalence of eosinophilia tended to increase with advancing age and was associated with a slightly lower mean forced expiratory volume.