CULTURE - ANAEROBIC (ANY SPECIMEN EXCEPT BLOOD) in Em-bypass, Kolkata

Culture – Anaerobic: Price, Purpose, Range & Reports 

Test Overview

The Culture – Anaerobic test is a specialised microbiological procedure used to detect and identify bacteria that thrive in environments lacking oxygen (anaerobes). These organisms are common causes of serious, deep-seated infections, particularly in the abdomen, pelvis, and oral cavity, where oxygen levels are naturally low.

Identifying these bacteria is crucial because they require specific antibiotics, as many common drugs are ineffective against them. If you are searching for the Anaerobic Culture test price or a reliable lab near me, Apollo 24|7 provides access to accredited microbiology services with secure and timely report delivery, ensuring the specialised handling required for anaerobic samples.

What is the Culture – Anaerobic Test?

The Culture – Anaerobic test is a specialised microbiological procedure used to detect and identify anaerobic bacteria, organisms that thrive in environments devoid of oxygen. It is commonly employed when infections are suspected to involve bacteria such as Bacteroides, Clostridium, or anaerobic Streptococcus, which are typically found in deep tissue, abscesses, or body fluids like ascitic or peritoneal fluid. To perform the test, the specimen is promptly transferred into oxygen-free transport media and incubated in an anaerobic chamber or jar. This controlled setting allows the growth of strict anaerobes, facilitating accurate identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The test plays a crucial role in diagnosing conditions such as peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscesses, necrotic tissue infections, and aspiration pneumonia.

What is the Culture – Anaerobic Price?

The cost of the Anaerobic Culture test reflects the specialised and labour-intensive nature of the procedure, which requires precise environmental control and extended incubation times.

Factors Affecting the Test Cost

The final price is influenced by these essential quality and service factors:

• Specialised Equipment: The need for specialised anaerobic chambers, transport systems, and oxygen-depleting catalysts contributes significantly to the operational cost. The sample collection procedure itself must be done aseptically, often in a clinic or hospital setting, for internal fluids.
• Extended Incubation Time: Anaerobes often require longer incubation periods (typically 48 to 72 hours, sometimes longer) compared to aerobic cultures, increasing monitoring time and lab resources.
• Quality Assurance: The fee covers processing at NABL-accredited Apollo laboratories, ensuring proper sample handling and accurate identification of slow-growing or fastidious organisms.
• Location: Prices may differ slightly between cities due to regional operating costs and logistics.

To find the most accurate and current Culture – Anaerobic price near me, please check the Apollo 24|7 app or website for real-time pricing specific to your location.

What is the Purpose of the Culture – Anaerobic Test?

The primary purpose of the Anaerobic Culture is to identify the specific bacterial pathogen causing a deep-seated infection and determine the most effective treatment.

• Pathogen Identification: To isolate and identify anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Clostridium difficile, Bacteroides fragilis) when clinical signs suggest an infection originating from the gut, tissues, or mucosal surfaces.
• Antibiotic Guidance: To perform Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) on the isolated organisms, ensuring the patient receives antibiotics specifically active against the identified anaerobes.
• Diagnosis of Deep Infections: Crucial for diagnosing infections like peritonitis (infection of the peritoneum, often sampled via ascitic fluid), abscesses in the liver, lungs, or brain, and gas gangrene.
• Differentiation: Helps distinguish infections caused by anaerobes (which often cause foul-smelling discharge and tissue necrosis) from those caused solely by aerobic bacteria.

Who Should Get the Culture – Anaerobic Test Done?

This test is typically ordered by a physician when an infection is suspected in a location with low oxygen tension or when the patient's condition does not improve despite treatment for aerobic bacteria.

You may be advised to take this test if:

• You have signs of peritonitis or an abdominal infection, and a sample of Ascitic/Peritoneal Fluid has been collected via paracentesis.
• You have deep wounds, ulcers, or abscesses (including dental, pelvic, or liver abscesses) with foul-smelling pus or discharge.
• You have a deep-seated infection following surgery, trauma, or perforation of the bowel, where organisms from the gut are likely to have spread.
• You are suspected of having septicemia (blood poisoning) from a gastrointestinal, gynaecological, or skin source where anaerobic bacteria are known to be involved.

Components of Culture – Anaerobic

• The successful execution of an anaerobic culture relies on creating and maintaining an environment hostile to oxygen.
• Clinical Sample (Ascitic/Peritoneal Fluid): The sample is the central component, obtained aseptically, typically via paracentesis (needle aspiration), and immediately transferred to the lab.
• Anaerobic Transport Medium: Special vials or containers containing an oxygen-free medium (often supplemented with reducing agents) used to protect the bacteria from oxygen exposure during transport to the lab.
• Anaerobic Chamber/Jar: The specialised incubation environment where oxygen is chemically removed or displaced (e.g., with nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide gas mixtures) to allow anaerobic growth.
• Enriched Culture Media: Specific agar plates and broths (often enriched with blood, yeast extract, and reducing agents) that support the growth of various fastidious anaerobic species.

Understanding a Culture – Anaerobic Report

The report is qualitative (indicating growth or no growth) and descriptive, identifying the specific organism(s) found and their susceptibility profile. The reporting formats and the range of organisms tested may vary slightly between laboratories, depending on their protocols, equipment, and regional guidelines. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation in the context of clinical findings.