Actinomyces Culture

Microbiology

Bacterial culture for the isolation and identification of Actinomyces species.

Diagnosis of infection with Actinomyces.

As standard practice the laboratory will culture for Actinomyces from:

Actinomyces are commensals of the mouth, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts – in rare cases they can cause infection (Actinomycosis.)

Material from wound, swab or IUCD

Plain Universal

Charcoal swab

For electronic requesting using EPIC (RDUH ONLY):

Request as for routine culture but state ‘For Actinomyces Culture’ in clinical details

Please state ‘Actinomyces culture’ in clinical details.

Requests must indicate if a specimen is high risk. Please indicate details of the risk e.g. TB, MPox, Viral Haemorrhagic Fever.

For more details please see our guidance on high risk specimens.

Processed locally in Microbiology at RDUH

Culture – up to 10 days for a Negative result