Culture and Sensitivity Stool
Also known as Culture And Sensitivity Aerobic StoolWhat is this test?
This test helps in diagnosing infections in the stomach. The goal is to see if there is an aerobic infection present in the stomach or digestive tract. This test helps in differentiating the bacteria that are causing infections and the type that are normally present in the stomach. For this test fresh stool is collected in a clean container. The sample should not be contaminated with urine or water. Once the sample is collected it should be handled in the laboratory within 2 hours.
What are culture and sensitivity testing?
In laboratories, the bacteria are often grown with the help of growth media (nutrient preparation which acts as a source of food for the bacteria). The grown bacteria is observed under a microscope to identify the type of bacteria. The process is called as bacterial culturing. The bacterial culturing is often used in the field of medicine to identify the species of bacteria causing the infection and to know what kind of medicines are effective in killing the bacteria and planning the treatment accordingly.
What are Bacteria, and Aerobic Bacteria:
Bacteria are the single-celled microorganisms that can live within the soil, in the ocean and also inside the human gut. They have a number of shapes such as spirals, rods, and spheres etc. Some bacteria can cause illness to the human body and some other plays a major role in the overall functioning of our ecosystem.
Aerobic bacteria are the bacteria which can survive in the presence of oxygen only. In the absence of oxygen, aerobic bacteria cannot survive and can die. Some of the aerobic bacteria are Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Nocardia, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis etc.
Why this test is performed?
This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like diarrhea with mucus or blood which lasts for a few days, stomach or abdominal pain, cramping, nausea or vomiting, fever, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, etc. This test may be specially performed to check if the infection is due to aerobic bacteria or not. This test is also recommended to plan the treatment according to the type of bacteria. The test is also recommended to check the effectiveness of the treatment given.
Also known as C/S Aerobic Stool.
Test Preparation
No special preparation is needed for Culture and Sensitivity Stool. Inform your doctor if you are on any medications or have any underlying medical conditions or allergies before undergoing Culture and Sensitivity Stool. Your doctor depending on your condition will give specific instructions.
Understanding your test results
The normal test results may vary depending on age, health history, medical condition, etc.
If your test results show negative it means there is no growth of aerobic bacteria.
If your test results show positive it may indicate that you may have aerobic bacterial infection in the stomach or digestive tract.
If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately with your lab test reports.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | The growth depends on the infecting organism. Clearing around the disc indicates organism is sensitive to antibiotic |