PRO-LAB Mucolyse PL.701 is a sputum liquefying agent used to digest and thin out the sputum, thus enhancing the isolation of organisms responsible for chronic lung disease.
Diagnosis and management of chronic lung disease has improved with the advent of sputum thinning agents. In the past iodides and sodium salts have clinically been used to help thin the thick bronchopulmonary secretions commonly associated with this disease, but with limited success.
A significant contribution to the cause was made by Sheffner in 1963 when he demonstrated that the reactive sulfhydryl groups in n-acetylcysteine were mucolytic. Since then, Cleland has shown that the sulfhydryl reagent dithiothreitol is a superior reagent for the specific and total reduction of mucoprotein disulfide bonds.3 DTT as a liquefying agent is used routinely in the digestion of sputum prior to processing smears and cultures as it does not effect the morphology, growth or FA standing of the pathogens in the sputum. Dithiothreitol (DTT) and phosphate buffer in accurate quantities are lyophilized and provided in individually labelled vials. Each vial is sufficient to make 100 ml of final product. The resultant pH will be 7.0.