Gastric culture

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Overview

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Results

Gastric culture

Definition:

A gastric culture tests the stomach (gastric) contents in children to identify the microoganism that causes tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis).

A gastric culture is done in children because when they cough up tuberculosis bacteria from the lung, rather than spitting it out, they swallow the sputum. Children cannot expectorate (cough up mucus and then spit it out) until about age 8. That is also why young children cannot spread the disease.

How the test is performed:

A naso-gastric tube is placed through the nose into your child's stomach. Your child 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 for the test:

Your child will need to fast for 8 to 10 hours before the test. The sample is collected in the morning. Conducting the test too soon after the tube is placed can affect the results. For this reason, your child will likely be admitted to the hospital for the night. The tube can then be placed in the evening, and the test performed first thing in the morning.

The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
School age test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel:

While the tube is being passed through the nose and throat, your child may feel some discomfort and may also feel the urge to vomit.

Why the test is performed:

This test is useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary (lung) tuberculosis in children in whom an adequate sputum sample cannot be obtained.

Review Date: 6/16/2005
Reviewed By: John Goldenring, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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