C&S

Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test

C&S
Stands forCulture and sensitivity
CategoriesMedical

C&S stands for Culture and sensitivity, a laboratory test abbreviation.

Laboratory process that grows microorganisms from a specimen such as urine, blood, sputum or wound fluid, identifies them and tests which antibiotics inhibit them. Results report each organism with susceptible, intermediate or resistant interpretations, often with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), usually within 24 to 72 hours.

Example: Wound C&S grew MRSA sensitive to doxycycline and TMP-SMX; switching from cephalexin.

Usage notes

Microbiologists prefer "culture and susceptibility", but C&S is entrenched in orders. Specimens should be collected before antibiotics start whenever possible. Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) now identifies many organisms within minutes of growth, and rapid molecular panels can detect resistance genes before full susceptibility results are available.

More laboratory test abbreviations

  • AST – Aspartate aminotransferase
  • BCx – Blood cultures
  • BE – Base excess
  • BG – Blood glucose
  • BMP – Basic metabolic panel
  • BUN – Blood urea nitrogen
  • Ca – Calcium
  • CAP – College of American Pathologists
  • CBC – Complete blood count
  • CBC w/ diff – Complete blood count with differential
  • Chem 7 – Seven-test chemistry panel
  • CK – Creatine kinase

See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.