Gastric culture How the Test is Performed:
A nasal gastric tube is placed through the nose into your stomach. You may be given a glass of water and asked to swallow while the tube is advanced. Once the tube is in the stomach, a syringe is used to withdraw a sample. The tube is then removed through the nose, and the sample is taken to the laboratory.
How to Prepare:
Plan to fast for 8 hours before the test. The sample is collected in the morning before you get out of bed.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
It is uncomfortable when the tube is being passed through your nose and throat. You may feel a scratching sensation while the tube is present.
Risks:
Anytime a tube is inserted down the back of the throat, a slight chance exists that the tube can enter the trachea instead of the esophagus. If this happens, you will cough and gasp.
Occasionally, tubes inserted through the esophagus may cause arrhythmias , but this is uncommon.
Why this Test is Performed:
This test may aid your health care provider in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium infections ( tuberculosis ). The test may also be used to determine the bacteria causing septicemia in your infant.
Normal Values:
Normally no bacteria are present in the culture.
Abnormal Results:
There are several types of mycobacteria that may be cultured. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the strain that causes the disease known as tuberculosis. Other strains can produce disease states that are indistinguishable from tuberculosis: Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium kansasii, and Mycobacterium avium.
Cost:
Information not available.
Special Considerations:
Because this type of bacteria takes and extended period of time to grow, the test results may not be available for two months.
If possible, antibiotic therapy should be started shortly after this test is completed.
Failure to fast for 8 hours prior to the test may alter the test results.
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