Bacteria Culture Test
Reviewed
A bacteria culture test checks for a bacterial infection by growing bacteria from a sample in a lab. It identifies the type of bacteria causing the infection, which helps guide treatment.
Preparation and collection
Ask your healthcare provider if you need to do anything to prepare. Preparation depends on the type of sample needed.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- The test requires enough bacteria to grow, which takes time (1–2 days, but some bacteria grow slowly and may take 5 days or longer).
- A negative result does not completely rule out infection because some bacteria may not grow in culture (false-negative).
- The sample collection methods (swab, blood draw, urine, sputum, stool, wound) are described by the source as having no known risks.
What to do next
If you have questions about your results, talk with your provider. If your results show you do not have a bacterial infection, do not take antibiotics—they only work against bacteria and can contribute to antibiotic resistance.