Culture - Meconium
Alternate Names : Meconium Stool Culture
DefinitionA laboratory test to isolate and identify organisms in the newborn feces (meconium) that may cause gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting or to determine the cause of a disease in the infant.
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Why is the Test Performed?
Meconium is the tarry stool of newborns that lasts for the first three days after birth. It is composed of amniotic fluid, salts, bile, cells, and normally is free of bacteria. While bacteria in the gut are a common and necessary part of life after birth, life in utero is normally sterile, and therefore there are no organisms in the meconium. If your child has been exposed to infected amniotic fluid, then this test may be positive for infective organisms and indicate the need for intervention and close attention.
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