Pneumococcal disease tests
Explanation
Pneumococcal disease tests look for Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium also called pneumococcus. It can cause pneumonia, an infection in the lungs, and other infections. The sample and test method depend on where the infection is suspected.
Why are different samples used?
Testing may use blood, mucus coughed up from the lungs, or fluid from around the brain and spinal cord. A culture tries to grow the bacteria; PCR, short for polymerase chain reaction, looks for their genetic material. In adults, a urine antigen test looks for parts of the bacteria and can help investigate pneumococcal pneumonia. Using urine for this test does not mean the infection is in the urinary tract.
Does finding the bacteria always mean disease?
No. Pneumococci can be present in the nose or throat without causing illness. Finding them there alone does not prove that they are causing the symptoms. The clinician considers where the sample came from and the other findings.
Can a negative result rule out infection?
Not in every case. For example, a urine antigen test can be negative when the amount of bacterial material is too small to detect. Other tests may still be needed, depending on the symptoms and examination.
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