How Do You Read Microbiology Lab Test Results?
The microbiology laboratory performs a series of moderate and complex tests on samples to determine if they contain bacteria, what kind of bacteria those are, whether or not they are capable of causing disease and, finally, what antibiotics work best against those bacteria. The reports sent out by the lab contain all the information a health care provider needs to diagnose and treat a patient with a suspected infection. Reading the results contained in the report requires some understanding of the tests being performed. Double-check the specimen source data to make sure it corresponds to the patient or site from which the sample was taken. One of the most common mistakes in the clinical laboratory is mishandling or mislabeling of specimens. Check to make sure the sample was taken at the right time, from the right site and delivered to the laboratory in a timely manner. Check to make sure the specimen type is correct. For example, make sure the sample is urine if the suspected infection
