MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Small intestine aspirate and culture

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Small intestine aspirate and culture

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition How the Test is Performed How the Test Will Feel	Why the Test is Performed Normal Results What Abnormal Results Mean Risks

Illustrations

Duodenal tissue culture

Definition Return to top

Small intestine aspirate and culture is a laboratory test that looks for infection in the small intestine.

How the Test is Performed Return to top

A sample of fluid from the small intestine is needed. This requires a procedure called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). For more information on this procedure, see EGD.

The fluid is placed in a special dish in the laboratory and observed for growth of organisms. This is called a culture.

How the Test Will Feel Return to top

The laboratory culture test is painless and does not involve the patient. For information on how the test to obtain the sample feels, see the article on EGD.

Why the Test is Performed Return to top

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of an infection of the intestinal tract.

Normally, many types of organisms are present in the small intestine and do not cause disease. However, in certain situations the test may be done when this normal intestinal bacteria is not desirable, such as in transplantation or other conditions that cause immunosuppression.

Normal Results Return to top

No disease-causing organisms should be found under normal conditions.

What Abnormal Results Mean Return to top

Abnormal results may be a sign of infection. When antibiotics are used for a long time, sometimes the normal intestinal organisms are not present.

Risks Return to top

There are no risks associated with a laboratory culture.

For information on risks associated with the procedure done to obtain the sample, see EGD.

Update Date: 1/27/2008

Updated by: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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