Viral culture
A viral culture is a common laboratory test in which a small sample of tissue or fluid that may be infected is collected and placed in a container along with cells in which a virus can grow. If a virus grows in the culture, it causes changes in the cells that can be seen under a microscope, and the virus can be identified.
It may take several weeks for a viral culture to grow and be tested. Then it may help a doctor learn the cause of an infection.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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