Urethral discharge culture

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Urethral discharge culture

Definition:

Urethral discharge culture is a laboratory test performed on men and boys to identify organisms in the urethra and genital tract that cause infection.

Alternative Names:

Culture of urethral discharge; Genital exudate culture; Culture - genital discharge or exudate

How the test is performed:

The opening of the urethra (at the tip of the penis) is cleansed with sterile gauze or cotton. A cotton swab is then gently inserted into the urethra about 3/4 inch and gently rotated. To ensure a good quality specimen, it should be collected at least 1 hour after urinating.

A culture of the discharge or exudate (the fluid that was collected) is then prepared in the laboratory. Any organisms that grow on the culture are isolated and identified. The drainage may be examined by Gram stain on a slide under the microscope for preliminary results and confirmed by culture.

How to prepare for the test:

Do not urinate for 1 hour before the test. Urination will wash away some of the organisms needed to obtain an accurate culture.

How the test will feel:

There is usually some discomfort associated with swabbing the urethra.

Why the test is performed:

Often the test is performed when there is a discharge from the urethra. This test can be performed to detect sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Review Date: 2/10/2006
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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