Milk Aerobic Bacterial Culture and Identification Test
This test detects bacteria in a milk sample and identifies the specific bacterial species present. It is used to evaluate the hygienic quality and safety of milk and to assess the risk of bacterial infection or contamination.
{通过培养检测牛奶中是否有细菌生长,鉴定具体菌种以确定污染来源,结果帮助判断牛奶是否安全可饮用,常用于食品安全检测和乳腺炎诊断}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 20879-3
- Short code
- MILKCULT
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Mlk Aerobe Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof, wide-mouth container (e.g., sterile urine cup or screw-cap sterile vial); culture transport system acceptable
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 48
- Ref high
- 72
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- female
- Age range
- 12–99 years
- Method
- aerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87070; 87077 (identification); 87186 (susceptibility, if indicated)
- SNOMED
- 44180002 | 274081003 | 119376003
- Specimen volume
- 5-10 mL of expressed breast milk
- Stability
- Refrigerated (2-8°C): up to 24 hours. Room temperature (20-25°C): up to 2 hours. Do not freeze. If delayed processing, transfer to transport medium per laboratory protocol.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–72 hours
- Order
- routine
What Is This Test?
Aerobic bacterial culture and identification of milk is a microbiology test used to determine whether bacteria are present in a milk sample and to identify the exact species. In the laboratory, the milk sample is placed onto culture plates and incubated under appropriate conditions. Technicians then observe whether bacterial growth occurs and perform species identification. This test helps determine the hygienic condition and overall safety of the milk.
Why Do I Need This Test?
This test is performed for several main purposes: 1) to evaluate the hygienic quality of milk and confirm that it is safe to drink; 2) to diagnose mastitis in dairy cows and determine whether it is caused by a bacterial infection; 3) to check dairy products for contamination as part of food safety monitoring; and 4) to trace the source of contamination when investigating food poisoning outbreaks.
Understanding Your Test Results
Results are usually reported as either positive (bacteria detected) or negative (no bacteria detected). If bacteria are found, the report will specify the exact species. Common species include Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Streptococcus. Each species has different clinical significance. For example, Staphylococcus aureus may suggest mastitis in a dairy cow, while certain strains of E. coli may indicate environmental contamination.
Reference range
No growth of pathogenic bacteria after 48-72 hours of incubation. Lactobacilli, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and other commensal skin flora may be present as normal contaminants.N/A
Clean the nipple and areola area with soap and water prior to collection. Discard the first few drops of milk. Collect midstream milk into a sterile container. Avoid touching the inside of the container or lid. If the patient is on antibiotics, note the antibiotic therapy on the requisition. Ideally, collect sample before initiating antibiotic therapy when possible.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
牛奶中细菌培养阳性的临床意义取决于检出菌种和数量。高菌落数通常表示牛奶卫生条件不佳或保存不当，可能导致食用者出现胃肠道症状。对于奶牛养殖者，这项测试有助于及早发现乳腺炎并进行治疗。在食品安全监管中，它是保障乳制品质量的重要指标。
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I drink milk that tested positive for bacteria?
How long does it take to get milk culture results?
How can bacterial contamination of milk be prevented?
Sources
- 1CDC - Milk SafetySource
- 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