Microbiology
| Full details for "Urethral swab - culture". | |
|---|---|
Name |
Urethral swab - culture |
Alternative name/Profile |
Sexually transmitted infection / STI / vaginal infections / genital tract infection / Neisseria gonorrhoeae/ Beta-haemolytic streptococci / gonococcal infection / urethritis / epididymitis / gonococcal cellulites / penile lymphangitis / periurethral abscess / Gonococcal cervicitis / pelvic inflammatory disease / PID / Disseminated gonococcal infection / DGI / pruritus |
Department |
Microbiology |
Investigation |
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Specimen type |
Urethral Swab |
Sample type |
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Sample container & volume |
Copan swab |
Frequency of analysis |
Daily |
Turnaround time |
5 days |
Availability |
Monday - Saturday |
Notes |
The Hologic Aptima Multicollect System is used as the screening method for Chlamydia and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Routine culture for Neisseria gonorrhoeae is no longer available to GPs. Culture is available to specialised STI clinics only. Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture requests from specialist clinics for urethral Copan swabs are processed for culture with or without an Aptima Multicollect specimen. Gram stains are not performed on Urethral swabs. Smear slides received into the Microbiology laboratory previously gram stained off-site will not be processed, as the laboratory can not insure the correct staining procedure has been performed. A range of sexually transmissible organisms cause infections responsible for a large number of clinical syndromes. When a specific STI is diagnosed, it is recommended to screen for other infections. Screening has a role in helping to control gonorrhoea, syphilis, chlamydial infection, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Appropriate specimens are often difficult to obtain, particularly from women, and incorrect or sub-optimal specimens are often received. Proper specimen collection is important to ensure optimal yield. The best specimen is expressed urethral exudate. Avoid contamination with microorganisms from the vulva or the foreskin. Appropriate swabs are available for collection of specimens. The patient must not have passed urine for at least 1 hour. For males, if a discharge is not apparent, attempt to "milk" exudate from the penis. The swab is gently passed through the urethral meatus and rotated. The swab is then placed in MW176 Liquid Transwab. As Neisseria gonorrhoea is highly susceptible to drying and changes in temperature, the time taken to culture and/or incubate the specimen in the appropriate conditions can affect recovery rate and thus the test results. Ideally, inoculation of specimens for N. gonorrhoeae is made directly to culture media (GC VCAT agar) at the bedside and incubated without delay. Ensure the medium is within the marked expiry date. The plates should be stored at 4ยบ C and returned to room temperature before inoculating. Recovery of organisms may be affected by inappropriate storage of VCAT agar. Transportation time to the laboratory must be as short as possible. |
Related links |
Investigation of Genital Tract and Associated Specimens:
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Reference range |
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Last updated |
Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:16:13 GMT |