Microbiology tests are performed to detect or confirm an infection and monitor the management of infection. The quality of the final report depends on the how well the various phases are executed. These phases include; the collection of the specimen and what your doctor writes on the request form, the transportation, the processing of the specimen and the interpretation of the results. You and your doctor should make a judgement on the value of the test remembering that a negative result can also be useful in the management of an infection. The report should be individualised based on three interacting elements in the management of your infection, namely you, the organism causing the infection and the drug prescribed to treat it.  Unsatisfactory reports include among others:-

1. The delay of the specimen in transit leading to the invalidation of the culture results. Taking a repeat specimen may not be possible as you may have already been started on treatment.
2. Insufficient specimen to perform the requested test as a result of someone not knowing how much blood to collect for the test.
3. Lost specimen- usually a verbal message indicating that the laboratory never received the specimen. This may be as a result of a complicated or dysfunctional transport system.
4. Clotted specimen-unsuitable to perform the test as a result of the wrong bottle being used.
5. No interpretation of results necessitating your doctor to contact the laboratory for more information sometimes in your presence-wasting your time.
6. Reporting of antibiotics which cannot to be used to treat the type of infection you have and the antibiotics you are allergic to ( a fact recorded on the request form by your doctor)
7. Not answering the questions your doctor put on the request form.

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