Nasal swab culture: price 49,50 zł

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Podmiot leczniczy, nr księgi RPWDL 000000229528
700 punktów pobrań krwi, badań diagnostycznych i konsultacji specjalistycznych
Badania i konsultacje realizujemy samodzielnie oraz przez podwykonawców
Wynik online, bez skierowania
Działamy od 2020 r., kontynuacja pierwszego w Polsce internetowego sklepu z badaniami (sklep.etermed.pl, od 2013)

49,50 zł

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A nasal swab is taken to detect disease-causing bacteria. The test is not painful, but may be uncomfortable because the swab is inserted quite deeply into the nostril. Taking the sample takes a few seconds.

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Category: Other laboratory tests

Opis produktu

Whereany collection point listed at checkout

Results turnaround timeup to 4 working days

Samplea swab from the vestibules of both nostrils, collected by staff and placed in transport medium

Preparationbefore starting antibiotics or at least a week after finishing them; do not use nasal drops, sprays or ointments before collection; do not blow your nose before collection

Why a nasal swab is tested for Staphylococcus aureus

This nasal swab culture targets one bacterium: Staphylococcus aureus. Material from the nasal vestibules is cultured on growth media to check whether this species grows. Around 30% of people carry Staphylococcus aureus in their nose, usually without any symptoms; this is known as carriage. The test determines whether a person is a carrier. This matters before certain surgical procedures and in cases of recurrent staphylococcal infections, as the nose can be their source.

When to consider this test

before planned surgery, especially cardiac or orthopaedic surgery, when your doctor requests a carriage assessment,
before hospital admission, if the hospital requires a result confirming whether you carry staphylococci,
if you have recurrent staphylococcal skin infections, such as boils or folliculitis,
if you have chronic or recurrent skin conditions and your doctor is looking for a source of secondary infections,
if you are at increased risk of infectious complications, for example if you have a haemodialysis catheter, are undergoing chemotherapy or are receiving parenteral nutrition.

How to prepare

Have the test before starting antibiotics. If you have taken antibiotics, the swab should be collected at least a week after finishing treatment.
Do not use any topical nasal products before collection: drops, sprays or ointments.
Do not blow your nose immediately before collection.
You do not need to fast, and you can attend at any time of day.

Staff at the collection point use a single swab to collect material from both nostrils and place it in transport medium. If your doctor wants a separate result for each nostril, two tests are needed.

How to interpret the result

Result	What it usually means
No Staphylococcus aureus grown	no Staphylococcus aureus carriage at the time of collection
Staphylococcus aureus grown, no symptoms	carriage; antibiotics are generally not needed, and your doctor will mainly consider eliminating carriage with a nasal ointment before certain procedures
Staphylococcus aureus grown in a person with recurrent skin infections	the nose may be a reservoir for the bacteria; your doctor will decide whether topical treatment is needed based on the result

Carriage can be temporary, so a single negative swab does not rule it out permanently, and antibiotics or nasal products used before collection may affect the accuracy of the result. This test only detects Staphylococcus aureus and does not replace a culture performed when symptoms of a nasal infection are present.

Other tests to consider alongside this test

Throat swab culture, Wound swab culture, Full blood count, CRP, Glucose. More information: Badania-Medyczne.pl.

Frequently asked questions

Does having Staphylococcus aureus in your nose mean you are ill?

No. Around 30% of people carry Staphylococcus aureus in their nose, and this usually has no effect on their health. This type of carriage generally does not require antibiotics, and a doctor decides whether any treatment is needed.

Why is a nasal swab for staphylococci requested before surgery?

People who carry Staphylococcus aureus have a higher risk of infection after certain procedures. Carriage is therefore checked before surgery, especially cardiac and orthopaedic surgery, and a doctor may recommend eliminating carriage with an antibiotic nasal ointment.

Can I use nasal drops before a nasal swab?

No. You should not use nasal drops, sprays or ointments before collection, and you should not blow your nose. It is best to have the swab taken before starting antibiotics or at least a week after finishing them.

Sources: ALAB laboratoria, Staphylococcus aureus nasal swab culture to assess carriage (turnaround time, sample, no fasting requirement); ALAB laboratoria, Extended nasal culture (preparation for a nasal swab, collection from both nostrils); CDC, About Staphylococcus aureus (around 30% carriage rate, boils, risk after procedures); Instytut Pomnik Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka, nasal swab collection instructions (indications before procedures and hospital admission, eradication of carriage); HSE Ireland, Staphylococcal nasal carriage (recurrent infections, temporary carriage); Samet A. et al., Przewodnik Lekarza 2003 (carriage and skin conditions). This content is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.