The Year of the Frog Campaign
Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) have launched the Year of the Frog campaign and we are excited to be part of it! This collaborative project hopes to boost the number of families submitting sputum samples each year. Regular sputum samples are recommended every 3 months (4 a year) in children with CF. Currently, PCH is only receiving approximately one sample per child per year.
Sputum samples are used to detect and identify bacteria, viruses and fungi that may be found in the lungs and enable quicker treatment.
How to Catch Your Frogs Video
Watch this short video to help your child learn how to produce a sputum sample at home.
Frog Passport
To help you remember when its time to submit your sputum sample, we have developed a Frog Passport which PCH are handing out at clinic visits. Be sure to collect one at your next appointment. Each time your child submits a sputum sample, PCH will stamp their passport. When your child has filled their passport, they will be eligible for a reward from CFWA.
Collecting Sputum Samples
How do I collect a sputum sample?
- Wash your hands.
- Rinse your mouth with water.
- Keep the lid on the sputum pot until you are ready. This helps reduce contamination with the environment.
- Take a deep breath, then cough deeply and clear your throat. Doing your physio or exercise first may make it easier.
- Spit the sputum into the sputum pot and put the lid on.
- Write your name, date and the time you got the sputum onto the pot.
- Keep the pot in the fridge and drop it to any PathWest with your sputum form within 24hours. When transporting, keep it in a cooler bag.
How do I find out my sputum sample results?
It takes 3-5 days for the sample to be processed and results to be available. Please email your CF nurses at pch.cf@health.wa.gov.au to see if any results are available. If it is close to your clinic date, please ask at your appointment.
More Information
Cystic fibrosis sputum sample factsheet (PCH)
Email: services@cfwa.org.au