BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSensitivity analysisAntibiotic sensitivity testing; Antimicrobial susceptibility testingSensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms (germs) such as bacteria that have been isolated from cultures.Sensitivity analysis may be done along with:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Clean catch urine culture or catheterized specimen urine culture Clean catchA urine culture is a lab test to check for bacteria or other germs in a urine sample. It can be used to check for a urinary tract infection in adults...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Catheterized specimenCatheterized specimen urine culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs in a urine sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sputum culture Sputum cultureRoutine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Culture from endocervix (female genital tract) Culture from endocervixEndocervical culture is a laboratory test that helps identify infection in the female genital tract.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Throat culture Throat cultureA throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Wound and other cultures How the Test is Performed After the sample is collected from you, it is sent to a lab. There, the samples are put in special containers to grow the germs from the collected samples. Colonies of germs are combined with different antibiotics to see how well each antibiotic stops each colony from growing. The test determines how effective each antibiotic is against a given organism. How to Prepare for the Test Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to prepare for the method used to obtain the culture. How the Test will Feel The way the test feels depends on the method used to obtain the culture. Why the Test is Performed The test shows which antibiotic drugs should be used to treat an infection.Many organisms are resistant to certain antibiotics. Sensitivity tests are important in helping find the right antibiotic for you. Your provider may start you on one antibiotic, but later change you to another because of the results of sensitivity analysis. What Abnormal Results Mean If the organism shows resistance to the antibiotics used in the test, those antibiotics will not be an effective treatment. Risks Risks depend on the method used to obtain the specific culture.Open ReferencesReferencesCharnot-Katsikas A, Harrington A. In vitro testing of antimicrobial agents. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.AllVideoImagesTog Tests for Sensitivity analysis Sensitivity analysisRelated Information Blood culture(Medical Test)Urine culture(Medical Test)Urine culture - catheterized specimen(Medical Test)Sputum culture(Medical Test)Endocervical culture(Medical Test)Throat swab culture(Medical Test) Review Date: 2/2/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Sensitivity analysisAntibiotic sensitivity testing; Antimicrobial susceptibility testingSensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms (germs) such as bacteria that have been isolated from cultures.Sensitivity analysis may be done along with:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Clean catch urine culture or catheterized specimen urine culture Clean catchA urine culture is a lab test to check for bacteria or other germs in a urine sample. It can be used to check for a urinary tract infection in adults...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Catheterized specimenCatheterized specimen urine culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs in a urine sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sputum culture Sputum cultureRoutine sputum culture is a laboratory test that looks for germs that cause infection. Sputum is the material that comes up from air passages when y...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Culture from endocervix (female genital tract) Culture from endocervixEndocervical culture is a laboratory test that helps identify infection in the female genital tract.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Throat culture Throat cultureA throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Wound and other cultures How the Test is Performed After the sample is collected from you, it is sent to a lab. There, the samples are put in special containers to grow the germs from the collected samples. Colonies of germs are combined with different antibiotics to see how well each antibiotic stops each colony from growing. The test determines how effective each antibiotic is against a given organism. How to Prepare for the Test Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to prepare for the method used to obtain the culture. How the Test will Feel The way the test feels depends on the method used to obtain the culture. Why the Test is Performed The test shows which antibiotic drugs should be used to treat an infection.Many organisms are resistant to certain antibiotics. Sensitivity tests are important in helping find the right antibiotic for you. Your provider may start you on one antibiotic, but later change you to another because of the results of sensitivity analysis. What Abnormal Results Mean If the organism shows resistance to the antibiotics used in the test, those antibiotics will not be an effective treatment. Risks Risks depend on the method used to obtain the specific culture.Open ReferencesReferencesCharnot-Katsikas A, Harrington A. In vitro testing of antimicrobial agents. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.