Culture & Sensitivity Skin Swab:
Why Culture and Sensitivity - Skin Swab Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Skin culture test looks for identifying disease-causing micro-organisms that cause diseases in the skin, which may also extend to nails (onychomycosis) and mucosa membranes (moist lining such as mouth (oral thrush), nose around genitals eg. Vaginal infection etc). Sometimes the infection (mainly causative pathogens are viral, bacterial or fungal in origin) can extend up to the mucosal layer. Moreover, fungal infections can trigger allergic reactions as well. The common type of fungal infections includes tinea infections, including tinea corporis (ringworm), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch). This test may be ordered in cases such as infected rashes, open sores, fungal infections, impetigo (skin infection caused by Strep or Staph bacteria), athlete’s foot, diabetic foot complications (secondary infections), herpes etc. The skin sample specimen collected for the purpose is skin lesion biopsy (punch / excisional biopsy), which is later cultured for the presence of harmful microbial pathogens. The skin specimen (shave biopsy) also includes wound swabs and ulcer swabs. This test becomes particularly important because certain fungal infections mimics bacterial or viral infections and its treatment (anti-bacterial or anti-viral treatment) becomes ineffective for atypical fungal infection. Hence their conformation helps in accurate diagnosis for the most effective course of treatment. Symptoms of the skin include itchy, red skin, scales formation, yellowish, thick and brittle nails, white patches on the tongue, inner cheeks, gums, itching and vaginal discharge etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen –Skin Sample 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: Skin Sample (Swab)
Test Preparation: None
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RTDIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres 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.
