A swab culture is a sample of body fluid taken for testing using a sterile swab. The sample is sent to a lab for a culture to determine any anomalies present. Swabs can be used to test for various health issues, including strep, STDs, and tuberculosis.
A swab culture is a sample of body fluid taken for testing, using a sterile swab that looks similar to the common cotton swab found in many bathrooms. A medical tampon is larger and may or may not be cotton. Once the sample has been taken, the swab is usually placed in a sterile container and sent to a laboratory where the actual culture is performed. This is done by spreading the swab onto a plate or glass slide and allowing the bacteria and other organisms to incubate and grow.
The sample is then viewed to determine what, if any, anomalies are present. Different types of medications may be applied to see which is the most effective, so your doctor or other health care professional can prescribe the best medication. This is referred to as a sensitivity test. A swab culture can be used to test for many different types of health problems.
A common type is a throat swab culture used to test for strep. Samples are collected from the back of the throat and tonsil area and may be cultured for several days before laboratory results are available. There’s also an instant test, which uses a swab-coated strip. The antibodies on the strip, when combined with the body fluid on the swab, will create a reaction if you have strep. These quick tests don’t tend to be as reliable as a thorough swab done by a lab.
Other types of swabs can similarly be used to remove fluids from other areas of the body to test for disease or identify DNA. Testing for health issues can include everything from testing for a simple urine infection to testing for life-threatening illnesses. Paternity test kits are now available for home use, but there are other types of DNA testing, for purposes ranging from finding long lost relatives to solving crimes.
A swab culture from the urethra for men or a cervical or vaginal swab culture for women can be used to test for particular types of STDs. In some cases it is possible to perform a less intrusive and more superficial swab, for example in the presence of sores or lesions. With wounds, including burns, a quantitative culture can be used to check for infection. A sputum swab, used to collect a sample from what most people call “phlegm,” can be used to test for tuberculosis.
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