Tests for Salmonella

Salmonella are bacteria that typically breed in uncooked meat, eggs, poultry or egg products. If a person ingests infected food, he is at a high risk of developing an infection that causes stomach complications like nausea and abdominal pain. Testing for salmonella can be done on both an infected individual and infected food.

Significance

• Testing for salmonella is imperative. An early diagnosis of salmonella in food (especially in public restaurants) can prevent a widespread outbreak of infection. Early detection of the bacteria in an individual will allot more time to proper treatment, which will lessen the symptoms of salmonella.

Stool

• A stool test is the most common way of detecting salmonella in an infected individual. A stool test is usually suggested by medical professionals if there is evidence of a bacterial outbreak (i.e., several individuals exhibiting similar symptoms). Since salmonella exhibits symptoms similar to other forms of food poisoning, a diagnosis of salmonella is often difficult to procure without medical testing.

  A stool test is performed by placing a stool sample in a nutrient broth or agar (gelatinous substance). After a few days, a microbiologist can examine the culture and determine the presence of salmonella bacteria.

Blood

• Blood tests for salmonella are uncommon, because salmonella bacteria will only infect the blood stream in about 5% of all cases. These sparse cases are dangerous, as a bacterial infection may spread to the heart, bones, joints and spleen once it enters the blood stream. If a doctor believes a blood test is necessary, he will remove a small portion of blood from a patient and determine the presence or absence of salmonella bacteria through a process known as serotyping. Serotyping detects bacterial proteins in the blood and the immune system's response to them.

Screening

• Certain tests are performed on food to prevent the chance of a salmonella outbreak. Many of these tests can be done at home through the use of a salmonella testing kit. Testing usually involves the use of liquid antibodies, saline and buffers to isolate salmonella bacteria into cultures. These cultures cause salmonella bacteria to clump together (a process known as agglutination) and become visible to the naked eye. Cultures can usually be procured in several hours to a couple of days.

Warning

• Salmonella matriculate quickly. Symptoms from salmonella poisoning may occur within a couple days of infection. Seek medical testing immediately if you notice blood in your stool, or if you vomit and experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, chills and headache.