Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Endocervical gram stain
Gram stain of cervix
Endocervical Gram stain is a method to identify bacteria on tissue from the cervix using a special series of stains.
How the Test is Performed
This test requires a sample of tissue from the lining of the cervical canal (the opening to the uterus).
You lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. The health care provider will insert an instrument called a speculum into the vagina. This instrument is used during regular female pelvic exams. It opens the vagina to better view certain pelvic structures.
After the cervix is cleaned, a dry, sterile swab is inserted through the speculum to the cervical canal and gently turned. It may be left in place for a few seconds to absorb as many germs as possible.
Cervix
The cervix is the lower end of the womb (uterus). It is at the top of the vagina. It is about 2 inches (5 centimeters) long. The cervical canal pa...
The swab is removed and sent to a laboratory, where it will be smeared on a slide. A series of stains called a Gram stain is applied to the sample. A laboratory technician looks at the stained smear under the microscope for the presence of bacteria. The color, size, and shape of the cells help identify the type of bacteria.
How to Prepare for the Test
DO NOT douche for 24 hours before the procedure.
How the Test will Feel
You may feel minor discomfort during specimen collection. This procedure feels very much like a routine Pap smear .
Pap smear
The Pap test checks for cervical cancer. Cells scraped from the opening of the cervix are examined under a microscope. The cervix is the lower part...
Why the Test is Performed
This test is used to detect and identify abnormal bacteria in the cervix area. If you develop signs of an infection or think that you have a sexually transmitted disease (such as gonorrhea), this test can help confirm the diagnosis. It can also identify the germ that is causing the infection.
This test is rarely done because it has been replaced with more accurate ones.
Normal Results
A normal result means no abnormal bacteria are seen in the sample.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
- Bacterial vaginosis
-
Chlamydia
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is an infection. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It is most often spread through sexual contact.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Gonorrhea
- Yeast infection
The test may also be performed for gonococcal arthritis , to determine the site of the initial infection.
Gonococcal arthritis
Gonococcal arthritis is inflammation of a joint due to a gonorrhea infection.
Risks
There is virtually no risk.
Considerations
If you have gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted disease, it is very important that all of your sexual partners also receive treatment, even if they have no symptoms.
References
Cohen MS. Approach to the patient with a sexually transmitted disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 293.
Eckert LO, Lentz GM. Infections of the lower genital tract: vulva, vagina, cervix, toxic shock syndrome, endometritis, and salpingitis. In: Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, Katz VL, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology . 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 23.
Workowski KA, Berman S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010. MMWR Recomm Rep . 2010 Dec 17;59(RR-12):1-110. PMID: 21160459 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21160459 .
Review Date: 12/2/2014
Reviewed By: Irina Burd, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
