Urethral Swab

Synonyms

Urethral Swab, urethral discharge, urethral discharge culture,

Purpose

A urethral swab is often performed on men and boys to detect STIs and other conditions that affect the genital tract or urethra. The swab is also performed on women who have symptoms such as painful urination or abnormal discharge.

To thoroughly analyse infections that affect the genital tract, the doctor can perform a urine culture alongside the urethra swab. The urine culture will help identify bacteria or yeast in the urinary tract.

In addition, in case the patient has symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), the doctor can perform a vaginal swab to detect the causing organisms. This is because PID often affects both the urinary tract and reproductive organs, such as the uterus.

Combining these tests helps to detect overlapping infections, allowing the doctor to provide specialized treatment.

Patient Preparation

Do the test at least 2 hours after you urinate.

Samples

Collect 1 Urethral swab in an Aptima swab. Gently insert a sterile cotton swab about 2 cm into the urethra and turn to collect the sample. Store the sample at room temperature (15°C to 25°C).

Reference Range

Negative/Normal

Results Turnaround

3 – 5 days after receipt of samples.

Diseases / Diagnostic Indicators

A urethral swab helps diagnose infections, which are often associated with conditions such as urethritis, which causes symptoms such as itching and abnormal discharge.

The swab involves collecting secretions from the urethral opening and analyzing them to identify fungal and bacterial organisms that may be causing the infection.

When STIs like gonorrhoea or chlamydia cause urethritis, early detection through a swab can help prevent complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease.

Refer to this study for further reading on Urethritis.