Blood and lab tests
What Does Culture and Sensitivity Mean on a Lab Report?
Culture and Sensitivity · say it: KUL-cher and sen-sih-TIV-ih-teeAlso written: C&S, culture and susceptibility, MC&S, urine culture, antibiogram
Short answer
A culture and sensitivity test grows germs from a sample to identify them, then checks which antibiotics can stop them.
What it means
In the culture step, a sample such as urine, a swab, blood or sputum is placed in conditions that let bacteria or fungi grow. If something grows, the lab identifies it.
In the sensitivity step, the lab tests the germ against a range of antibiotics. Results are usually marked S (sensitive, the drug should work), I (intermediate) or R (resistant, the drug is unlikely to work).
These tests take time, often a day or more, because the germs need to grow. Some results say "no growth" or "mixed growth", which can mean no infection was found or that the sample may have been contaminated.
Where you may see it
- Urine, wound, throat and blood culture reports
- Microbiology lab results
- Hospital infection records
📄 How it looks on a report
Urine culture: >10^5 CFU/mL E. coli. Sensitive: nitrofurantoin. Resistant: amoxicillin.
🙅 What it does not mean
- "Resistant" refers to the germ, not to you; it does not mean your body has become resistant to antibiotics.
- Growth does not always mean infection; skin bacteria can contaminate a sample.
- "Sensitive" does not mean that antibiotic is right for you; your doctor also considers allergies and other factors.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Culture and Sensitivity”
Paste or upload the report and every line of it is explained, with personal details removed first.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Culture and Sensitivity” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- MedlinePlus lab test guides ↗
US National Library of Medicine
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: blood and lab tests
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.