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. 2001 Jun;39(6):2344–2347. doi: 10.1128/JCM.39.6.2344-2347.2001

TABLE 2.

Variation among Gram stain and culture results with lower respiratory tract specimens

Specimen Procedure No. of instances of variationa
0 1 2 3 4
Expectorated sputa (n = 26) Gram staining 23 16 10 1 2
Culture 32 18 1 1
Tracheal aspirates (n = 38) Gram staining 46 21 8 1 0
Culture 59 13 3 1
a

Number of instances in which replicate B or C varied from replicate A with respect to the indicated number of morphotypes observed or bacteria seen.