Changing cultures from each throat swab...so confusing

[julieta79]

Hi there,

My son was tested at two different CF labs just 5 weeks appart. His first test was moderate Staph (MSSA), and rare Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia. In 5 weeks, he was re-tested at another Cf clinic, and the MSSA and Steno didn't show, but they found few MRSA now. He is only 6 months old and no symptoms. Doctors are as confused as me.

Have you guys seen anything like this? How could cultures change in 5 weeks so much? This is such a confusing disorder

 

[Printer]

Labs, like the rest of us, make errors.

 

[Ratatosk]

Unfortunately, too is a throat culture/swab won't always get a good sample. DS is 10 an still isn't able to cough up a sputum culture, so they still do throat cultures. And Printer's right, can also be errors in the lab. Different techs, samples may be handled differently. Our local lab drives me nuts 'cuz they'll call me the next day with "results" and I'm thinking, shouldn't they be growing those a tad bit longer...