throat culture

Indications

• pharyngitis
  • streptococcal pharyngitis
  • pharyngitis due to other organisms

Specimen

• swab of posterior pharynx, ulcerations or areas of suspected purulence
• mnimum volume: 1 swab
• container:
  • sterile culturette or other sterile swab collection system containing a holding medium

Notes

• normal pharyngeal microflora contains alpha-hemolytic streptococci, saprophytic Neisseria species, diphtheroids, & non-hemolytic Staphylococcus species
• aerobic culture of throat (routine) includes screening for & identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci
• organisms considered normal flora, generally identified on request
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Haemophilus parainfluenzae
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
• special culture request for:
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Corynebacterium diphtheria

More general terms

• culture of body fluid

More specific terms

• Neisseria meningitidis throat culture

Additional terms

• normal microbial (endogenous) flora
• throat