Culture - duodenal tissue
Duodenal tissue cultureA duodenal tissue culture is a laboratory exam to check a piece of tissue from the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The test is to look for organisms that cause infection.
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How the Test is Performed
A piece of tissue from the first part of the small intestine is taken during an upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, also called an EGD).
The sample is then sent to a lab. There it is placed in a special dish (culture media) that allows bacteria or viruses to grow. The sample is looked at under a microscope regularly to see if any organisms are growing.
Organisms that grow on the culture are identified.
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How to Prepare for the Test
This is a test done in a lab. The sample is collected during an EGD and biopsy procedure. Ask your health care provider how to prepare for this procedure.
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Why the Test is Performed
A culture of duodenal tissue is done to check for bacteria or viruses that may lead to certain illnesses and conditions.
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Normal Results
No harmful bacteria or viruses are found.
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What Abnormal Results Mean
An abnormal finding means that harmful bacteria or a virus has been found in the tissue sample. Bacteria may include:
- Campylobacter
- Helicobacter pylori (H pylori)
- Salmonella
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Risks
Risks of this test include:
- Bleeding
- Perforation of (poking a hole in) the gastrointestinal tract by the scope
- Infection
Some people may not be able to have this test because of other medical conditions.
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Considerations
Other tests are very often done to look for infection-causing organisms in duodenal tissue. These tests include the urease test (for example, the CLO test) and histology (looking at the tissue under a microscope).
Routine culture for H pylori is not currently recommended.
References
Fritsche TR, Pritt BS. Medical parasitology. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 63.
Lauwers GY, Mino-Kenudson M, Kradin RL. Infections of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Kradin RL, ed. Diagnostic Pathology of Infectious Disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 10.
McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.
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.