1. 3 sputum specimens (nocturnal sputum, early morning sputum and immediate sputum) should be sent to the initial patient. If no nocturnal sputum is available, another sputum specimen should be taken 2-3 hours after early morning sputum is retained; or two copies of immediate sputum should be taken at the time of sputum delivery. Two sputum specimens (morning sputum and nocturnal sputum) will be sent for examination each time during the course of treatment or for follow-up patients on a regular basis. 2. Immediate sputum is the sputum coughed up by the patient at the time of consultation. Morning sputum is the sputum coughed up deeply after gargling in the early morning. Nocturnal sputum is the sputum coughed up at night before the consultation. Nocturnal sputum can be stored in a 40c refrigerator to prevent sputum from drying up or contamination and to keep sputum fresh. Sputum specimen should be pus-like, purulent mucus-like sputum with sputum volume of 3-5 ml. 3, sputum specimen container sealed, do not invert, and strictly prevent sputum spillage.