Menu

An expert resource for medical professionals
Provided FREE as a service to women’s health

The Alliance for
Global Women’s Medicine
A worldwide fellowship of health professionals working together to
promote, advocate for and enhance the Welfare of Women everywhere

Welfare of Women

The Global Library of Women’s Medicine
Clinical guidance and resources

A vast range of expert online resources. A FREE and entirely CHARITABLE site to support women’s healthcare professionals

The Global Academy of Women’s Medicine
Teaching, research and Diplomates Association

Menu

Laboratory Tests

This section provides detailed information on a wide range of laboratory tests relevant to women's medicine

A rapid reference

Genital Culture

A genital culture allows the organisms present in the vagina to grow to levels enabling identification.

The vagina is not sterile, but contains a mixture of aerobic, anaerobic, coliform, and skin bacteria, as well as a few fungi. Normally, these are in balance with no particular predominant organism.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are usually not included in a genital culture as both require special media to detect.

Significant growth of any one organism usually indicates a clinical or subclinical infection. Common types of overgrowth include:

  • Yeast (candida albicans)
  • Streptococcus
  • Gardnerella
  • E. Coli
  • Proteus

Normal Values*

Genital Culture Normal Vaginal Flora

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.
Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300