Please note that the respiratory tract specimens eligible for satisfying the PNU2 laboratory findings specify that the specimen be a minimally contaminated lower respiratory tract specimen. This includes only bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial wash, protected specimen brushing, and endotracheal aspirate. Note that endotracheal aspirate indicates the specimen is collected via an artificial airway. A sputum specimen that is not obtained through an artificial airway (specifically, endotracheal tube or tracheostomy) from a ventilated patient is not considered minimally contaminated and is not eligible for use in meeting the laboratory criteria. Specimens labelled sputum or tracheal secretions collected from a non-ventilated patient are not minimally-contaminated specimens and therefore are only available for use when meeting PNU3 laboratory finding of a matching Candida species identified in both sputum and blood with both specimen collection dates found in the same infection window period.