Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic, Stool- Automated Identification & Sensitivity on Vitek

Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic, Stool – Automated Identification & Sensitivity on VITEK

Test Overview
Stool Culture & Sensitivity is a microbiological test used to detect and identify clinically significant aerobic bacterial pathogens present in a stool sample. When a potentially pathogenic organism is isolated, automated identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are performed using the VITEK system.

Why is this test done?

• Helps identify bacterial causes of gastrointestinal infections.
• Determines the specific bacterial organism responsible for infection.
• Evaluates which antibiotics are likely to be effective.
• Supports targeted antimicrobial treatment and helps avoid unnecessary antibiotic use.

How is the test performed?

1. A properly collected stool sample is cultured using appropriate microbiological methods.
2. Suspected bacterial growth is isolated and evaluated.
3. The organism is identified using the VITEK automated identification system.
4. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is performed to assess the organism's response to selected antibiotics.
5. Results are interpreted and reported by the microbiology laboratory.

Sample: Stool
Method: Aerobic culture + Automated Identification & Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Platform: VITEK

Result: The report may include the identified organism and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, where clinically significant growth is detected.

Important: A negative culture does not always exclude infection, as results can be affected by prior antibiotic use, sample quality, timing, and the organisms targeted by the culture.