BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRectal cultureCulture - rectalRectal culture is a lab test to identify bacteria and other germs in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease. How the Test is Performed A cotton swab is placed into the rectum. The swab is rotated gently, and removed. A smear of the swab is placed in culture media to encourage the growth of bacteria and other organisms. The culture is watched for growth.The organisms can be identified when growth is seen. More tests may be done to determine the best treatment. More testsSensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms (germs) such as bacteria that have been isolated from culture...Read Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test The health care provider does a rectal exam and collects the specimen. How the Test will Feel There may be pressure as the swab is inserted into the rectum. The test is not painful in most cases. Why the Test is Performed The test is done if your provider suspects that you have an infection of the rectum, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. It may also be done instead of a fecal culture if it is not possible to get a specimen of feces.GonorrheaGonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fecal cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The rectal culture may also be performed in a hospital or nursing home setting. This test shows if someone carries vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in their intestine. This germ can be spread to other patients. Normal Results Finding bacteria and other germs that are commonly found in the body is normal.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may mean you have an infection. This may be:Bacterial infection Parasitic enterocolitis GonorrheaSometimes a culture shows that you are a carrier, but you may not have an infection.A related condition is proctitis.ProctitisProctitis is an inflammation of the rectum. It can cause discomfort, bleeding, and the discharge of mucus or pus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks.Open ReferencesReferencesBatteiger BE, Tan M. Chlamydia trachomatis (trachoma and urogenital infections). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 180.Marrazzo JM, Apicella MA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonorrhea). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 212.Melia JMP, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 110.Plourde AR, Beavis KG. Specimen collection and handling for diagnosis of infectious diseases. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 66.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.AllVideoImagesTogRectal culture - illustration A rectal culture test is performed by inserting a cotton swab in the rectum. The swab is rotated gently, and withdrawn. A smear of the swab is placed in culture media to encourage the growth of microorganisms. The test is performed to isolate and identify organisms in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and/or disease.Rectal cultureillustrationRectal culture - illustration A rectal culture test is performed by inserting a cotton swab in the rectum. The swab is rotated gently, and withdrawn. A smear of the swab is placed in culture media to encourage the growth of microorganisms. The test is performed to isolate and identify organisms in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and/or disease.Rectal cultureillustration Tests for Rectal culture Rectal cultureRelated Information Fecal culture(Medical Test)Cryptosporidium enteritis(Condition)Proctitis(Condition) Review Date: 5/6/2022 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Rectal cultureCulture - rectalRectal culture is a lab test to identify bacteria and other germs in the rectum that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease. How the Test is Performed A cotton swab is placed into the rectum. The swab is rotated gently, and removed. A smear of the swab is placed in culture media to encourage the growth of bacteria and other organisms. The culture is watched for growth.The organisms can be identified when growth is seen. More tests may be done to determine the best treatment. More testsSensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms (germs) such as bacteria that have been isolated from culture...Read Article Now Book Mark Article How to Prepare for the Test The health care provider does a rectal exam and collects the specimen. How the Test will Feel There may be pressure as the swab is inserted into the rectum. The test is not painful in most cases. Why the Test is Performed The test is done if your provider suspects that you have an infection of the rectum, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. It may also be done instead of a fecal culture if it is not possible to get a specimen of feces.GonorrheaGonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fecal cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The rectal culture may also be performed in a hospital or nursing home setting. This test shows if someone carries vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) in their intestine. This germ can be spread to other patients. Normal Results Finding bacteria and other germs that are commonly found in the body is normal.Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may mean you have an infection. This may be:Bacterial infection Parasitic enterocolitis GonorrheaSometimes a culture shows that you are a carrier, but you may not have an infection.A related condition is proctitis.ProctitisProctitis is an inflammation of the rectum. It can cause discomfort, bleeding, and the discharge of mucus or pus.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There are no risks.Open ReferencesReferencesBatteiger BE, Tan M. Chlamydia trachomatis (trachoma and urogenital infections). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 180.Marrazzo JM, Apicella MA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonorrhea). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 212.Melia JMP, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 110.Plourde AR, Beavis KG. Specimen collection and handling for diagnosis of infectious diseases. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 66.Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA. Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.