The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
myClipboard
myClipboard
Save news, events, articles and doctor's information to your personal clipboard for later reference.
Add items by clicking the 
button.
Create an account
Centers of Excellence
-
-
We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
-
The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
-
Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
-
The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
Share
Print
Related Media
Gram stain of skin lesion
Definition
A gram stain of a skin lesion is a laboratory test that uses special stains to detect and identify bacteria in a sample from a skin sore. The gram stain method is one of the most commonly used techniques for the rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Alternative Names
Skin lesion gram stain
How the test is performed
Your health care provider will remove a sample of tissue from the skin sore. For information on how this is done, see the article on skin lesion biopsy.
The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is applied in a very thin layer to a glass slide. A series of different colored stains is applied to the sample. A laboratory team member examines the stained slide under a microscope, checking for bacteria. The color, size, and shape of the cells help identify the infecting organism.
How to prepare for the test
No preparation is needed for the laboratory test.
How the test will feel
The laboratory test is painless. For information on what it feels like to have the skin sample removed, see skin lesion biopsy.
Why the test is performed
Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of an infected skin sore. The test is done to determine which bacteria is causing the infection.
Normal Values
The test is normal if no bacteria are identified.
What abnormal results mean
An abnormal result means bacteria have been found in the skin lesion. Further tests are needed to confirm the results.
What the risks are
There are no risks related to the laboratory test. For information on risks related to the removal of a skin sample, see skin lesion biopsy.
Special considerations
A skin or mucosal culture may be done along with this test. Other studies are often done on a skin sample to determine if cancer is present.
Viral skin lesions, like herpes simplex, are examined by other tests or a viral culture.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).