MRSA Tests
Reviewed
A MRSA test looks for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in a sample of fluid or tissue. The sample is often taken from your nose or a wound. MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to many common antibiotics.
Preparation and collection
No special preparations are 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 detects MRSA bacteria but does not distinguish between colonization (carrying the bacteria without infection) and active infection. Your healthcare provider will consider your symptoms and medical history to interpret the result.
- Culture results typically take 24–48 hours because bacteria need time to grow. A molecular test (on nasal swabs) can give results in as little as 5 hours.
What to do next
If your result is positive, your provider will determine treatment based on the severity of the infection. For mild skin infections, they may clean, drain, and cover the wound and may prescribe antibiotics. For serious infections, you may need hospital treatment with IV antibiotics. Always follow your provider's instructions and complete your full course of antibiotics.