Culture & Sensitivity - Nasal Swab:
Why Culture and Sensitivity - Nasal Swab Specimen Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Microbial infections due to bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc can cause upper respiratory diseases in human beings. The usual causative infections include influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, Bordetella pertusis (whooping cough), staphylococcal aureus infections of the nose and throat, etc. When neglected they can also cause respiratory diseases to the lungs and can lead to further complications with conditions like emphysema, atelectasis, SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in acute or chronic cases, acute/chronic respiratory distress syndromes that may lead to chronic obstructive or restrictive lung diseases, etc. Complications of untreated or chronic cases may lead to secondary manifestations of strep-throat such as rheumatic fever – heart disease affecting valves, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, abscess usually around tonsils, swollen lymph nodes around the neck, etc. Nasal swab test is also referred to as nose swab, nasopharyngeal swab, nasal aspiration (using a humidifier and suction aspirator), etc. Nasal swab specimen for culture and sensitivity test is a quick, painless test used to diagnose upper respiratory infections. Culture tests help to allow the infectious microorganisms to grow in the laboratory by smearing specimen swab (nasal) on an appropriate culture growth media. Hence this test identifies the cause of disease-causing infectious organisms that thrive in the secretions at the back of the nose and throat, thus making physicians detect and confirm a definitive diagnosis. Therefore the culture test result alerts the physician from unusual or potentially life-threatening complications and moreover the sensitivity test results also identify antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA / VSMA) etc. Clinical manifestations include runny nose, fever, chronic cough, chest congestion, body ache, headache, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath while excretion, palpitations, etc. In case of persistence, as its extrapolation, additional tests like throat swab culture or throat culture tests are also performed, as in cases like sore throat (with/without systemic manifestations) to detect the presence of infections causing diseases such as strep throat (streptococcus bacteria), pneumonia, tonsillitis, whooping cough, meningitis, etc for differential diagnosis. Tests for supporting evidence include various other specimens eg. urine tests, blood tests, sweat tests, and also further investigations like spirometry, X-rays of the chest, CT Scan of head and neck and/or chest region, etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen – Nasal Swab. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
Sample Requirement: Nasal Swab.
Test Preparation: None.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centers to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
