culture of genital fluid (vaginal, urethral, cervical, prostatic)

Indications: - urogenital infection - sexually transmitted disease Specimen: 1) source a) vaginal secretions b) urethral secretions c) cervical swabs d) uterine fluid e) prostatic fluid 2) minimum volume: 1 swab or 0.5 mL of fluid 3) container: -> transwab containing Amies transport medium or similar medium for Neisseria gonorrhoeae Notes: 1) vaginal swab sample for routine culture should be discouraged, unless a specific pathogen is suspected 2) if detection of multiple organisms is requested (i.e. group B Streptococcus, Trichomonas, Chlamydia, Candida) one swab per test should be sent to the lab

References

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed. Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 491