Understanding Your Test: What It Is and How It Is Performed
This test identifies anaerobic bacteria in body fluid samples to diagnose infections caused by bacteria that grow without oxygen.
{"The test detects anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that don't need oxygen) in body fluids","It helps doctors diagnose serious infections that standard tests might miss","Results typically take 2-7 days as bacteria need time to grow","Anaerobic infections often occur after surgery, trauma, or in deep tissue wounds"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 17958-0
- Short code
- ANAFLUID3
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Fld Anaerobe Cult org #3
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof container appropriate for anaerobic transport; anaerobic transport system (e.g., Anaerobic Transport Medium, Vacutainer anaerobic vial, or sterile screw-cap tube with transport medium) to maintain anaerobic conditions during transport
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- anaerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87075
- SNOMED
- 443430001
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 1-5 mL of body fluid depending on fluid type; larger volumes preferred (5-10 mL) for synovial, peritoneal, and pleural fluids to maximize recovery of organisms
- Stability
- Specimens should be processed within 1-2 hours of collection if held at room temperature; if transport is delayed, maintain at room temperature in anaerobic transport medium; do not refrigerate anaerobe specimens as cold is detrimental to anaerobic organism viability; maximum transport time 24 hours in appropriate anaerobic transport medium at room temperature
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
This test is a medical examination that helps your healthcare provider gather important information about your health. It may be used to screen for a condition, help confirm a diagnosis, or check how well a treatment is working. Your provider will review the results with you, explain what they mean, and answer any questions you may have before or after testing.
An anaerobic bacterial culture is a laboratory test that detects and identifies bacteria that can grow without oxygen (anaerobic bacteria) in a sample of body fluid. Body fluids may include fluid from wounds, abscesses, joint fluid (synovial fluid), abdominal fluid (peritoneal fluid), or other sterile body sites. Unlike aerobic bacteria that need oxygen to grow, anaerobic bacteria thrive in environments with little or no oxygen, such as deep tissues, wounds, or the gastrointestinal tract.
How this test is performed depends on the type your provider has ordered. In many cases, a small sample of blood, urine, or other body fluid is collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Other tests use imaging equipment or a simple physical examination. The procedure is usually quick, and most people can return to normal activities right away. Your care team will tell you if any special preparation is needed.
A healthcare provider collects a sample of body fluid using a sterile needle and syringe. The sample is then placed in special culture containers that provide the proper conditions for anaerobic bacteria to grow. The laboratory monitors the culture over several days to see if bacteria multiply. If growth occurs, further tests identify the specific type of bacteria and determine which antibiotics will be most effective.
Reference range
No anaerobic bacteria isolated; normal flora absent or non-pathogenic; clinically significant anaerobic isolate identified and reported to genus and species level with antimicrobial susceptibility as appropriateN/A
Discontinue antimicrobial therapy prior to specimen collection when clinically feasible. Specimen should be collected prior to initiation of antibiotics. Aseptic technique is essential to prevent contamination with normal flora. For body fluid collections, follow standard sterile collection procedures.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
Anaerobic bacterial cultures are important for diagnosing infections caused by bacteria that standard aerobic cultures cannot detect. These infections can include deep tissue abscesses, wound infections, bone infections (osteomyelitis), joint infections, and intra-abdominal infections. Identifying the specific anaerobic bacteria helps healthcare providers choose the most appropriate antibiotic treatment, as some anaerobes are resistant to certain antibiotics. This test is particularly valuable when patients have persistent infections that do not respond to standard treatments.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need an anaerobic culture instead of a regular culture?
How long does it take to get results?
Does collecting the sample hurt?
What do the results mean?
Sources
- 1
- 2
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy