A culture is a method used to identify the organisms that are causing an infection.
Cultures can be used to grow and identify bacteria,fungi, viruses, and parasites.
The results may take days or longer.
Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Sean Gallup / Getty Images
What Is a Culture?
It can be a helpful test, but it isn’t right in every situation.
And for some infections, antibody tests can confirm past or recent exposure.
Additionally, aPCR testcan detect the presence of some viruses by identifying the viral genetic material.
Culture Medium
This is the material that the organisms grow in.
Different pathogens (like bacteria, fungi, and viruses) need different environments in which to grow.
The Sample
A culture must include a tissue or fluid sample suspected of being infected.
But sometimes an invasive procedure, such asa biopsyor alumbar puncture, is needed to obtain the sample.
When a healthcare provider orders a culture, they have to specify the throw in of organism suspected.
Types of Cultures
There are three types of cultures: solid, liquid, and cell.
Sometimes, a culture is obtained, and then treatment is started before the results are ready.
If needed, the treatment can be adjusted based on the culture test results.
2020 Aug;11(4):266. doi:10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.4.18
