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Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analysis


Definition:

Sensitivity analysis determines the effectiveness of antibiotics against microorganisms such as bacteria that have been isolated from cultures.

Sensitivity analysis may be performed along with:

Alternative Names:
Antibiotic sensitivity
How the test is performed:

Colonies of microorganisms are combined with different antibiotics to see how well each antibiotic stops each colony from growing. The test determines the effectiveness of each antibiotic against a particular organism.

How to prepare for the test:

There is no special preparation.

How the test will feel:

The way the test feels depends upon the method used for obtaining the specific culture.


Review Date: 1/22/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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