If the test results from your sputum Gram’s stain are abnormal, it means that bacteria and white blood cells have been detected. The bacteria found will be Gram-positive or Gram-negative.

Sputum Gram stain and culture were once the gold standard of diagnosis in patients with pneumonia but have been discounted in recent years, with published sensitivity estimates ranging as low as ...

Musher DM, Montoya R, Wanahita A. Diagnostic value of microscopic examination of gram-stained sputum and sputum cultures in patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. Clin Infect Dis. 2004 ...

To determine the effectiveness of Gram staining of tracheal aspirates for predicting causative microorganisms and guiding appropriate initial antibiotic therapy to treat ventilator-associated ...