Clinical and Interpretive

This assay is used in identifying the bacteria responsible for infections of sterile body fluids, tissues, or wounds.

Sterile Body Fluids and Normally Sterile Tissues:
In response to infection, fluid may accumulate in any body cavity.

Wound, Abscess, Exudates:
Skin and soft tissue infections can occur as a result of a break in the skin surface, or they can occur as complications of surgery, trauma, human, animal, or insect bites, or diseases that interrupt a mucosal or skin surface. Specimen collection is of utmost importance for these specimen types. For most open lesions and abscesses, remove the superficial flora by decontaminating the skin before collecting a specimen from the advancing margin or base. A closed abscess is the specimen site of choice. Aspirate the abscess contents with a syringe.

Any microorganism found where no resident flora is present is considered significant and is reported. For specimens contaminated with the usual bacterial flora, bacteria that are potentially pathogenic are identified.