Understanding Your Laboratory Test: A Patient Guide to Testing, Sample Collection, and Reading Your Results
This test identifies bacteria from a sample taken from the area around your belly button (periumbilical) to detect infections.
{"The test collects a sample from the periumbilical area to grow and identify bacteria","It helps doctors diagnose skin or soft tissue infections around the belly button","Results can guide appropriate antibiotic treatment","Sample collection is quick and usually causes minimal discomfort","Results typically take 2-5 days to complete"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 105925-2
- Short code
- BACTPER
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Periumbilical Aerobe Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile bacterial culture transport swab system (e.g., Amies or Stuart's transport medium with polyester or flocked swab), or sterile screw-capped container for aspirates/tissue specimens. Culturettes with transport medium are preferred to maintain organism viability during transport.
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 0–120 years
- Method
- aerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87070 - Culture, bacterial; any other source except urine, blood, or stool, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (additional CPT codes 87077 for additional organism identification and 87184-87188 for susceptibility testing may be applicable based on findings)
- SNOMED
- 428531000124103 - Bacterial culture of skin (or related microbiology culture procedure codes depending on specific specimen subtype)
- Specimen volume
- Not applicable for swab-based collection. For tissue or aspirate specimens, a minimum of 0.5-1 mL of fluid or equivalent tissue sample is recommended. Swab specimens should be fully saturated with exudate when possible.
- Stability
- Specimens should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible, preferably within 2 hours of collection at room temperature (20-25°C). If immediate transport is not feasible, specimens in Amies or Stuart's transport medium are stable for up to 24 hours at room temperature. Do not refrigerate swab specimens, as cold temperatures may kill fragile organisms. Tissue and fluid specimens may be held at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–120 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test? This is a laboratory test that measures specific substances in your body to help your healthcare provider evaluate your overall health, screen for certain conditions, or monitor a treatment plan you may already be following.
The Bacteria Identified in Periumbilical by Aerobe culture test is a laboratory test that collects a sample from the area around your belly button (periumbilical region) and places it in a special environment that allows aerobic bacteria ( bacteria that need oxygen to grow) to grow. The laboratory then identifies what types of bacteria are present.
How is the sample collected? A trained healthcare professional will collect your sample, most often a small amount of blood drawn from a vein in your arm, though sometimes a urine, saliva, or swab sample is used depending on what your provider ordered. The procedure is quick and usually causes only brief, mild discomfort.
A healthcare provider will gently swab the skin around your belly button with a sterile cotton swab or collect a small sample of any discharge or tissue from the area. This sample is then placed in a sterile container and sent to the laboratory for analysis. The area may be cleaned with an antiseptic before sampling to reduce contamination.
Why might I need this test? Your doctor may order this test as part of a routine checkup, to help find the cause of symptoms you are experiencing, to screen for a health condition before it causes problems, or to track how well a treatment is working over time.
Your doctor may order this test if you have symptoms of an infection in the periumbilical area, such as redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or discharge around your belly button. It is commonly used to diagnose omphalitis (infection of the umbilicus), abdominal wall infections, or to check for infections after abdominal surgery or piercing.
What do the results mean? Your results are compared with a reference range, and your healthcare provider will explain what the values mean for your specific situation. Results outside the expected range do not always signal a serious problem, so review your report with your provider before drawing any conclusions.
If bacteria are identified, the report will show the specific type of bacteria found. Common bacteria that may be found include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, or Escherichia coli. Your doctor will use this information to determine the best treatment, which may include specific antibiotics designed to target the identified bacteria. If no bacteria grow, it may mean there is no infection or that the infection is caused by fungi or viruses, or that you have already started antibiotics.
Reference range
No growth of pathogenic aerobic bacteria isolated. Normal skin flora (e.g., coagulase-negative staphylococci, Corynebacterium species, Micrococcus species) may be reported as commensal flora without clinical significance.N/A
No fasting required. Prior to collection, the periumbilical area should be gently cleaned with sterile saline if visibly soiled. Avoid application of topical antibiotics, antiseptic solutions, or ointments to the collection site for at least 24-48 hours prior to sampling, as these may suppress bacterial growth and yield false-negative results. If the patient is currently receiving systemic antibiotics, this should be documented and communicated to the laboratory.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
This test is clinically significant for diagnosing bacterial infections of the abdominal wall and umbilical region. It helps distinguish between bacterial and other types of infections, guides targeted antibiotic therapy, and can identify the cause of persistent or recurrent infections. The results can also help determine if an infection is responding to treatment or if a different approach is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Does the test hurt?
How long does it take to get results?
Do I need to prepare for the test?
What happens if bacteria are found?
Can I still shower before the test?
Sources
- 1
- 2Mayo Clinic - OmphalitisSource
- 3
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