Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata announced the launch of the Induced Sputum Lab. With this announcement, the hospital becomes the first one in the private healthcare space in Eastern India to bring in an Induced Sputum Cell Count.  It is an astounding diagnostic modality for treating lung diseases and would be highly advantageous for patients suffering from severe asthma.

A noninvasive technique called induced sputum cell count largely determines the type of inflammation connected to severe asthma, improving the accuracy of the introduction of the right treatment.

Without the Sputum Cell Count, it may be challenging to determine the existence and kind of airway inflammation, which could delay receiving the appropriate care.

The presence, kind, and severity of inflammation in the lungs’ airways are assessed by induced sputum cell counts. Assisting them in coughing up secretions, is a method performed for individuals who have difficulty producing sputum on their own. This is accomplished by adding more moisture to the lungs’ airways, which thins and loosens secretion and makes it simpler to cough up phlegm.

The process of inducing sputum is painless. It entails using a nebulizer to breathe in various concentrations of saline (mild salty water), followed by cough-like motions to produce a sample of sputum. The patient’s inhalation of nebulized hypertonic saline solution liquefies airway secretions, encourages coughing, and permits expectoration of respiratory secretions.

“Induced Sputum cell counts have the advantage of providing information on the cellular nature of inflammation in patients with severe asthma,” said Dr. Saibal Moitra, Adjunct Professor and Senior Consultant-Allergy & Immunology, Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata, who was present at the press conference. “This supports therapy selection. Induced sputum is now being used more often to evaluate airway pathology. Sputum eosinophils are listed as an evidence-based method in the current asthma recommendations for monitoring airway inflammation and, consequently, forecasting and evaluating corticosteroid response” added Dr. Moitra.

The Division of Allergy and Immunology at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals in Kolkata has an induced sputum lab that will be helpful for all patients with severe asthma or those who are not responding well to treatment. These patients can be evaluated by this test to determine the best course of treatment.