Upper Female Genital Tract (Culture and Sensitivity) - Provincial
Discipline
Microbiology
Overview
Description
- Infections of the upper female genital tract, including endometritis, tubo-ovarian abscesses, salpingitis, and other pelvic inflammatory disease manifestations can be serious and life-threatening. Organisms may be introduced to these normally sterile spaces during childbirth, surgery, other invasive procedures or instrumentation, and through infections ascending from the lower genital tract
Ordering recommendations
- Order culture and sensitivity testing on invasively-collected specimens from the upper female genital tract when infection is suspected
Alias
- Endometrial culture, uterine culture, tubo-ovarian culture
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Biopsy, aspirate, or swab from endometrium, uterus, fallopian tube, tubo-ovarian, placenta tissue/swab. Cul de sac aspirates only (not swabs).
- Vaginal swabs or lower genital tract samples are NOT acceptable for anaerobic culture and will be rejected.
Specimen collection container
- Submit biopsy in sterile container. May add small amount of sterile saline to keep moist
- Submit aspirate in sterile container
- Submit swab in liquid Amies media (Eswab®)
Collection procedure
- Collect invasive specimen using sterile technique
Required volume
- 1 biopsy or Eswab® specimen
- Recommended minimum volume 1 mL aspirated fluid
Transport and stability
- Swab specimens in Eswab® transport media can be transported at room temperature or refrigerated at 4°C
Testing Information
Clinical information
- Specimens will be tested at the nearest laboratory with anaerobic culture capability
Performance
Methodology
- Gram stain, aerobic and anaerobic culture
Maximum laboratory time
- Direct exam (Gram smear) results reported within 24 hours of receipt in laboratory
- Final culture results up to 5 days
Specimen retention time
| RGH/Pasqua |
|
| Saskatoon |
|
Last Updated: September 18, 2024