What happens during a Gram stain?
Your health care provider will need to take a sample from the site of a suspected infection or from certain body fluids, depending on what type of infection you may have. The most common types of Gram stain tests are listed below.
Wound sample:
A provider will use a special swab to collect a sample from the site of your wound.
Blood test:
A provider will take a sample of blood from a vein in your arm.
Urine test:
You will provide a sterile sample of urine in a cup, as instructed by your health care provider.
Throat culture:
Your health care provider will insert a special swab into your mouth to take a sample from the back of the throat and tonsils.
Sputum culture. Sputum is a thick mucus that is coughed up from the lungs. It is different from spit or saliva.
Your health care provider will ask you to cough up sputum into a special cup, or a special swab may be used to take a sample from your nose.
