Culture test: A Complete Guide About the Types, Purpose & Cost

Culture test is an advance diagnostic test that is used for the identification of causative organisms of various diseases. It is usually clubbed with the antibiotic sensitivity test to check the antibiotic susceptibility of...

What is Culture test?

Culture test is an advance diagnostic test that is used for the identification of causative organisms of various diseases. It is usually clubbed with the antibiotic sensitivity test to check the antibiotic susceptibility of the organism so as to decide the best effective drug against that organism.

Culture test is usually done to confirm or rule out:

Bacterial infections
Fungal infections
Viral infections
Parasitic infections.

Culture test can be performed on different types of samples such as blood, urine, stool and sputum depending upon the signs and symptoms of disease you have.

What are the uses of culture test?

Culture test is an advanced approach for the detection of microbial infections inside your body. Culture tests are usually indicated for:

Identification of causative organisms involved in various diseases such as:
- Bacterial endocarditis
- Sepsis
- UTI (Urinary tract infection)
- Respiratory tract infections such as:
  - Tuberculosis
  - Histoplasmosis
  - Pneumonia
- Parasitic infections
- Discharging wounds
- Persistent diarrhea
- Peritonitis
- Sore throat
- Food poisoning
- Meningitis etc.
- Burn wounds infection
- Prosthetic heart valve replacement
- Gynecological operations
- Abdominal surgeries
- Open contaminated wound repair
- Ascitic fluid tapping
- Pleural fluid tapping
- CSF tapping.
- Patients on immunosuppressive therapy
- Patients on prolong urinary catheterization
- Patients with prolong intravenous catheterization etc.
After surgical procedures such as:
- Prosthetic heart valve replacement
- Gynecological operations
- Abdominal surgeries
- Open contaminated wound repair
- Ascitic fluid tapping
- Pleural fluid tapping
- CSF tapping.
Monitoring Purposes such as in:
- Patients on immunosuppressive therapy
- Patients on prolong urinary catheterization
- Patients with prolong intravenous catheterization etc.
To check the antibiotic sensitivity of microbes for deciding appropriate treatment.

What samples are required for Culture test?

Culture test can be performed on a variety of samples. Your health care professional will advice a specific type of culture test which may require any of the given below samples:

Blood
Urine
Stool
Sputum
CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid)
Cervical or endocervical swab
Throat swab
Conjunctival swab
Wound swab
Aspiration fluid etc.

How do I prepare for Culture test?

Preparation for culture test may depend upon the type of culture. In general, you may follow these steps before a culture test:

Take an appointment: Fix an appointment for Culture test in a diagnostic lab to avoid waiting at the time of test.
Food: You can take your usual meals. Fasting is usually not required for Culture test if done alone. However, Culture test is usually done in conjunction with other blood tests which may require fasting. Your health care provider may give you special advice according to the type of culture test.
Medications: Inform your doctor about all the drugs and supplements that you are currently taking. Certain drugs may alter the test result such as antibacterial or antifungal drugs. Your doctor may advice some modifications before the test if required.

What is the procedure for Culture test?

The procedure of Culture test depends upon the type of sample required and may include the following steps:

Procedure for Blood Culture:
- First a torniquet will be tied around your arm.
- Then a cotton swab soaked with 70% alcohol is used to clean/disinfect the injection site before needle insertion.
- Then a small needle will be inserted in the vein of your arm and required amount of blood is withdrawn from it and collected in a test tube.
- Then the needle is removed and an adhesive sticker is placed on the puncture site to prevent it from infections.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for Sputum Culture:
- You will be instructed to collect your sputum by coughing it out and collect in a sterile container.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for stool culture:
- You will be instructed to collect your stool in a sterile container.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for Urine Culture:
- You will be instructed to collect urine sample in a sterile container.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for Wound Culture:
- A technician will collect sample from your wound using a swab or syringe.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for Throat Culture:
- A technician will collect sample from your throat and adjacent area using a special swab.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Procedure for CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) culture:
- Your health care professional will collect sample by performing a spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.

What is the risk/side effects of Culture test?

Culture test is a safe procedure with usually no side effects However, depending upon the method of sample collection, some individuals might experience few side effects mainly if sample collection involves needle insertion such as in blood culture or aspirate culture, you may encounter side effects as mentioned below:

Pain at injection site
Pain at site of aspiration
Hematoma
Multiple punctures to locate vein in those where veins are not easily accessible
Bleeding at puncture site, especially patients having bleeding or clotting disorders or those on anticoagulant therapy
Oozing of fluid from the site of aspiration
Infection at puncture site
Thrombophlebitis.

How long it takes to get Culture report?

Usually, Culture reports are available after 3-5 days. However, it may take longer to get the reports depending upon the type of organism cultured such as bacteria or fungus and the time required by the organism to grow and multiply in sufficient numbers.

Cost of Culture test in Delhi?

Price of Culture test depends upon many factors such as city and locality. Different diagnostic labs charges according to the quality of machines they have and various offers that they are providing to their customers. Cost may also vary depending upon the type of culture test.

Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging centre (GDIC), Rohini also known as GDIC is currently offering 50% discounts on various tests including Culture test.

Our centers are NABH and NABL accredited and equipped with modern, highly expensive machines with latest cutting-edge technologies and highly skilled Radiologists and Pathologists.We follow strict aseptic conditions to prevent transmission of infections.

Charges of various types of Culture test at Ganesh Lab (GDIC) are as following:

Blood Culture and Sensitivity (C/S) Test

~~Rs 500~~ – Rs 250 Book Now

Blood Culture & Sensitivity Lactate 3 Samples

~~Rs 2250~~ – Rs 1125 Book Now

Aerobic Blood Culture

~~Rs 1160~~ – Rs 580 Book Now

Catheter Tip Culture Test

RS 400 – Rs 200 Book Now

Wound Swab for Culture & Sensitivity

~~Rs 400~~– Rs 200 Book Now

Bactec AFB Sputum Culture Test

~~Rs 830~~ – Rs 415 Book Now

Cervical Culture & Sensitivity

~~Rs 500~~ – Rs 200 Book Now

Conjunctival Culture & Sensitivity

~~Rs 450~~– Rs 315 Book Now

Aspirate Culture

Rs 600 – Rs 300 Book Now

CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) Culture & sensitivity

~~Rs 750~~ – Rs 375 Book Now

Stool Culture

Rs 750– Rs 350 Book Now

Urine Culture

Rs 750 – Rs 375 Book Now

CT Guided Aspiration Culture & Sensitivity

~~Rs 400~~– Rs 200 Book Now

Hurry! Grab the best deals now!

Best diagnostic lab for Culture test in Delhi?

Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) is considered as the best diagnostic lab for Culture test in Rohini, North-East Delhi. We have many branches in different locations of Delhi including Hari Nagar, Yamuna Vihar, Nangloi, Derawal Nagar and Mangol puri.

Ganesh lab (GDIC) is now considered one of the most popular diagnostic labs in Delhi as:

We provide high standard quality services to our patients.
Experience of 23+ years of services.
Our labs are NABH and NABL certified.
Facility of latest cutting-edge technologies.
Well-trained technicians.
Highly Skilled Radiologists and Pathologists
Genuine reporting and Patient satisfaction are our top priority.
We offer seamless integration between diagnosis and treatment planning.
Affordable Diagnostic lab with up to 50% discount on many tests. Currently, we are offering flat 50% discount on various types of Blood tests including Culture test.
We are open 24X7 and 365 days.
You can also avail free Consultation with our Pathologist regarding any blood test or imaging scans.
We also offer facilities of online reporting, free home sample collection and free Ambulance services in Delhi, NCR.
We are empanelled with various departments and organizations. So, you can get the services at panel rate too.
Lakhs of satisfied customers.