PCR VS CULTURE

The most significant benefits to PCR testing versus a Culture is both accuracy and turnaround times for results. With your own PCR lab, you can get same day results. Depending on the culture, a patient may have to wait 3-14 days for results, as the pathogens of infection need time to grow, to be visibly identified. A tech will then view the specimen under a microscope and make a subjective decision of what they see. Many times, the pathogens of infection don’t have enough time to become visible, so results can be inaccurate.

A PCR test takes a few hours and is 99.9% accurate. If the same specimen was tested via both a culture and PCR, the PCR result would consistently find many more pathogens of infection, giving valuable information for the treating Physician to use the correct antibiotic for a proper treatment plan. Why treat an unidentified infection with a broad spectrum antibiotic when you can treat the exact pathogens of infection with the proper antibiotic, thus eliminating repeat infections and minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance due to prescribing the best antibiotic solution via PCR results vs. a broad spectrum antibiotic while waiting for Culture results, and hoping for the best? PCR Testing provides the best possible patient outcome, which is critical for the Senior patient population. Collaborative Diagnostics has access to several Clinical Studies and Clinicians whom can validate these findings. Contact us today to discuss.