MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Sensitivity analysis

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Sensitivity analysis

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition How the Test is Performed How to Prepare for the Test	How the Test Will Feel Why the Test is Performed What Abnormal Results Mean Risks

Alternative Names

Antibiotic sensitivity

Definition Return to top

Sensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms such as bacteria that have been isolated from cultures.

Sensitivity analysis may be performed along with:

Blood culture
Clean catch urine culture or catheterized specimen urine culture
Sputum culture
Culture from endocervix
Throat culture
Wound and other cultures

How the Test is Performed Return to top

Colonies of microorganisms are combined with different antibiotics to see how well each antibiotic stops each colony from growing. The test determines the effectiveness of each antibiotic against a particular organism.

How to Prepare for the Test Return to top

There is no special preparation.

How the Test Will Feel Return to top

The way the test feels depends upon the method used for obtaining the specific culture.

Why the Test is Performed Return to top

The test shows which antibiotic drugs should be used to treat an infection.

Because many organisms continue to show resistance against various antibiotics, sensitivity tests have become more and more important. Your doctor may start you on one antibiotic, but later change you to another one because of the results of sensitivity analysis.

What Abnormal Results Mean Return to top

If the organism shows drug resistance to the antibiotics used in the test, then those antibiotics will not be effective treatment.

Risks Return to top

The risks depend upon the method used for obtaining the specific culture.

Update Date: 1/22/2007

Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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