Search for
Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria Semen (Manual method)
Bacterial/ Viral
Report in 72Hrs
At Home
No Fasting Required
Details
detect the presence of aerobic bacterial infections in the semen, particularly in cases of male infertility, chronic prostatitis, epididymitis, or urogenital tract infections.
₹299₹1,600
81% OFF
Culture & Sensitivity, Aerobic bacteria Semen (Manual method)
- Why is it done?
- This test identifies and isolates aerobic bacterial pathogens present in seminal fluid and determines their susceptibility to various antibiotics
- Diagnostic tool for bacterial prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, and urethritis affecting male fertility
- Evaluates patients presenting with symptoms of genital tract infection including pain, swelling, discharge, or infertility
- Guides targeted antibiotic therapy by identifying specific organisms and their antibiotic resistance patterns
- Performed in cases of recurrent urinary tract infections, post-vasectomy complications, or sexual dysfunction
- Assesses seminal fluid quality and sterility in infertility workup or assisted reproductive procedures
- Normal Range
- Normal Result: No growth or negative culture after 48-72 hours of incubation
- Interpretation: Absence of pathogenic aerobic bacteria indicates a sterile seminal sample; no bacterial infection of the male genital tract
- Colony Count Threshold: Less than 1,000 CFU/mL (Colony Forming Units per milliliter) is generally considered negative or clinically insignificant
- Abnormal Result: Positive culture with ≥1,000 CFU/mL or higher (some labs use ≥10,000 CFU/mL) of identified bacterial pathogen
- Units of Measurement: CFU/mL (Colony Forming Units per milliliter); results reported as organism identification with bacterial count and antibiotic susceptibility pattern
- Sensitivity Interpretation: Reported as Susceptible (S), Intermediate (I), or Resistant (R) for each antibiotic tested; susceptible indicates antibiotic is likely effective
- Interpretation
- No Growth/Negative: Indicates absence of clinically significant aerobic bacterial infection; normal finding in healthy males
- Positive Culture with Single Organism: Suggests true infection; common pathogens include E. coli, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas; indicates bacterial prostatitis or seminal vesiculitis
- Positive Culture with Multiple Organisms: May indicate contamination from skin flora (Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium) or polymicrobial infection; requires clinical correlation
- Low Colony Count (100-1,000 CFU/mL): May represent contamination or early/resolving infection; clinical correlation with symptoms essential; may warrant repeat collection
- High Colony Count (>10,000 CFU/mL): Indicates significant bacterial load; strongly suggests active infection requiring treatment
- Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern: Susceptible (S) results guide initial antibiotic selection; Resistant (R) results indicate need for alternative therapy; Intermediate (I) results suggest borderline effectiveness
- Factors Affecting Results: Improper collection technique, contamination during sample processing, previous antibiotic therapy, urinary tract infections, recent sexual activity, collection method, timing of collection
- Clinical Significance in Infertility: Bacterial infection may impair sperm motility, viability, and fertilization capacity; antibiotic treatment may improve fertility outcomes when infection is present
- Associated Organs
- Primary Organs Involved: Prostate gland, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, urethra, and testes
- Bacterial Prostatitis: Acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland; can lead to pain, dysuria, urinary frequency, and sexual dysfunction
- Seminal Vesiculitis: Inflammation or infection of seminal vesicles; causes painful ejaculation, blood in semen, and reduced seminal volume
- Urethritis: Infection and inflammation of the urethra; symptoms include urethral discharge, burning sensation during micturition
- Orchitis and Epididymitis: Infection of testes and epididymis respectively; can result in testicular pain, swelling, and impaired spermatogenesis
- Male Infertility: Bacterial infections impair sperm quality, motility, and fertilization potential; associated with reduced conception rates
- Complications of Untreated Infection: Chronic bacterial prostatitis, recurrent urinary tract infections, sepsis (rare but serious), obstructive azoospermia, permanent loss of reproductive function
- Systemic Effects: Severe infection may spread to urinary bladder causing cystitis, or ascend to kidneys causing pyelonephritis; rarely can lead to bacteremia and septicemia
- Follow-up Tests
- Post-Treatment Culture: Repeat semen culture 4-6 weeks after completing antibiotic therapy to confirm eradication of infection and assess treatment effectiveness
- Semen Analysis: Complete semen analysis including sperm count, motility, morphology, and viability to assess impact of infection on fertility parameters
- Urinalysis and Urine Culture: To evaluate for concurrent urinary tract infection or upper urinary tract involvement; assess for hematuria or pyuria
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA): May be elevated during acute prostatitis; useful to monitor after treatment; baseline determination for future reference
- Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS): Imaging study to visualize prostate gland and seminal vesicles; useful in chronic prostatitis or suspected abscess formation
- Expressed Prostatic Secretion (EPS) Culture: Direct sampling of prostatic secretions for culture to differentiate bacterial prostatitis from urethritis or cystitis
- Anaerobic Bacterial Culture: May be ordered if clinical suspicion for anaerobic infection exists; assesses for fastidious or anaerobic organisms
- White Blood Cell Count (WBC) in Semen: Elevated leukocytes suggest inflammation or infection; helps distinguish infection from other causes of infertility
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Panel: Screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Mycoplasma, and other STI organisms; important if compatible clinical presentation or epidemiologic risk factors
- Blood Culture: If systemic signs of infection present (fever, chills) to rule out bacteremia or septicemia
- Monitoring Frequency: Baseline test performed at initial evaluation; repeat culture recommended 4-6 weeks post-treatment; follow-up semen analysis at 12 weeks if treating for infertility; clinical symptoms guide frequency of repeat testing
- Fasting Required?
- Fasting: No - Fasting is not required for this test
- Pre-Collection Instructions: Abstain from sexual activity and ejaculation for 3-5 days prior to collection to ensure adequate sample volume and cellular content
- Collection Method: Masturbation into a sterile, wide-mouth container provided by laboratory; first portion of ejaculate most clinically significant; avoid contamination with urine, toilet water, or lubricants containing bacteriostatic agents
- Sample Handling: Transport specimen to laboratory within 30 minutes of collection; keep at room temperature during transport; do not refrigerate as cold temperatures may reduce bacterial viability
- Medications to Avoid: Discontinue antibiotics for minimum of 5-7 days prior to collection if possible (consult prescribing physician); avoid topical lubricants containing spermicides or antibacterial agents
- Timing Considerations: Collection can be performed any time of day; early morning samples often yield better results due to higher bacterial load
- General Preparation: Wash hands and external genitalia with soap and water before collection; allow to dry completely; void (empty bladder) prior to collection to minimize urinary contamination
How our test process works!
