Final answer:
To process a thick, fresh sputum sample, it should be diluted, smeared on a slide, air dried, heat-fixed, and then stained for microscopic examination, or cultured on an agar plate if necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
An acceptable method for processing a thick, fresh sputum sample is to dilute the sample with sterile water to reduce its viscosity, then smear it onto a glass slide for microscopic examination. This process, using a sterile swab and applying aseptic technique, allows for the detection of organisms like acid-fast bacteria, which may indicate infections such as tuberculosis.
After smearing, the sample should be allowed to air dry and then it can be heat-fixed by passing the slide through the flame of a Bunsen burner, ensuring that the bacteria adhere to the slide for staining and identification. Culture methods vary, but for some bacteria, such as S. aureus and S. saprophyticus, standardized suspensions are prepared to match a known turbidity standard before being swabbed onto an agar plate for growth.