Microbiology

If your clinical symptoms or other blood tests suggest that you may have an infection, your doctor may order a range of tests from the microbiology lab with the goal of determining if you are currently infected by a microorganism (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite) or have been previously infected (antibodies). These tests may include culture (growing the organisms), molecular testing (amplifying small fragments of the organisms), serology (detecting antibodies to the organisms), or morphology (identifying the organisms directly under the microscope). Unlike all other laboratory tests, which have a reference range, microbiology tests determine the absence or presence of infection.