Urethral Smear Test

A burning sensation while urinating or a yellowish or greenish discharge from the bladder needs an immediate attention. It may indicate sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when sex is done without any protection. The problem is more common in the age group 15-29 years boys and men. The Gram Stain urethral smear diagnostic test confirms the exact condition of the bacterial contagion of the urinary tubes and the bladder in men. Urethral microscopy is primitive examination that makes sense in reliable screening for Urethritis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. The pathology report mentions the percentage of Gonococci.

The microscopy of Urethral Smear does not require a particular groundwork in general. The doctor should be informed well in advance if you are on some medication or have some allergies. Do not consume alcohol prior to the test. There are certainly more things that are complete no-no some days before going for the culture test. Avoid making love for some days, using any so-called sexual hygiene products, and prepare a list of questions you want to ask your doctor. Wear a comfortable, loose trousers or shorts as a doctor would ask you to undress below waist to examine.

The test discovers microbes in the urethra that are a cause of several infections of the genital tract. Urethral smears may be suggested as test for hormone deficiency in males. This is an aged investigation procedure to ensure the level of bacterial infection in men. Urethral infections are treatable. The doctor may base the course of treatment on the lab generated report of an urethral smear.

• A Urethral culture smear is tested with Gram Stain method. The urethral culture test may be conducted two hours after you last urinated.
• The technician will wipe the penis with a clean, sterilized gauze or cotton swab and ask the patient to squeeze penis.
• A sterile swab is inserted about 2 cm into the urethral opening and rotated to collect within the fluid sample.
• Take out the swab and apply as a thin layer on a glass slide. Gram Stain the smear with the reagents. Wash under a running tap.
• The stained specimen smear slide is scanned under the microscope.