Clinic appointment
Vaginal Swab Culture
A bacterial culture of a vaginal swab: the sample is grown on media chosen for that site and any significant organisms found are identified and reported.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 3 to 5 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
Included tests listed below
Swab culture (bacteria and yeast)
The swab is grown in the laboratory on media chosen for the site it was taken from, and any significant bacteria or yeast that grow are identified and reported. It is a general culture rather than a targeted test for sexually transmitted infections.
Overview
A general bacterial culture of a vaginal swab, taken at the clinic. Instead of testing for a fixed list, the laboratory grows whatever is present and reports any organism that is clinically significant and, where the laboratory reports them, antibiotic sensitivities. It suits vaginal symptoms where a PCR panel has not given an answer or a clinician wants to see the whole picture.
For someone with vaginal symptoms such as discharge, odour or irritation, where a culture can identify bacteria or yeast that a targeted PCR panel does not cover. It is a general culture, not an STI panel.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Women aged 18 and over
- Women with discharge or irritation and a clear PCR panel
- Anyone whose clinician has asked for a culture
Who it isn’t for
- It is not an STI test: chlamydia and gonorrhoea need PCR, not culture. It is taken by a clinician at the appointment, not at home. If you are pregnant, or have had a gynaecological procedure recently, contact your midwife, GP or the team who treated you instead.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Discharge or irritation with a negative PCR panel
- Recurrent symptoms after treatment
- Symptoms that came back after a course of treatment
- A clinician who has asked for a culture
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Swab culture (bacteria and yeast)
- Result
- n/a
- Range
- on your report
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swab culture (bacteria and yeast) | n/a | n/a | on your report | n/a |
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- You book your appointmentA trained clinician takes your sample at one of our London clinics. Nothing to do at home.
- The clinician takes your sampleA single swab, taken at the clinic
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 3 to 5 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Clinic swab
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Women · ages 18+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
A swab culture is not reported against a normal range. Many bacteria and yeasts live on healthy skin and in the genital tract, so what grows is read alongside your symptoms rather than on its own. It is a general culture, not a targeted test for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, Mycoplasma genitalium, trichomonas, herpes or HIV, which need their own tests, and a result with no significant growth does not explain away symptoms that continue.
If you have symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse, contact your GP, an NHS sexual health clinic or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a result.
Frequently asked questions
What does a culture show that PCR does not?
PCR only finds what it is designed to look for. A culture grows any bacteria or yeast present and identifies them. Where the laboratory reports it, it can also show which antibiotics are likely to work.
How long does it take?
Cultures need time to grow, so results take longer than a PCR test. The turnaround shown on this page is the laboratory's typical time.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 3 to 5 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a swab, not a blood sample, and it is taken at a clinic. We arrange a convenient appointment for you.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your swab is cultured at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189): it is grown on media chosen for the site it came from, and any significant organisms that grow are identified. A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. The report lists what grew, or that no significant growth was found, with the doctor's note on what it means alongside your symptoms and what usually happens next, which is most often a conversation with your GP or a sexual health clinic. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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