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Diagnostic Small Bowel Aspirates

Also known as: small intestine aspirate and culture.

What is diagnostic small bowel aspirates?

Diagnostic small bowel aspirates is a medical test that involves checking a sample of fluid taken from the small intestine. The test is used to check for infection in the small intestines.

What happens during the procedure?

The patient receives medicine to help relax and go to sleep, and then an endoscope, which is a tube with a light and camera at the end, is passed through the esophagus, stomach and small intestines in order to obtain a sample of fluid from the small intestine. The fluid is then placed in a special dish and sent to a laboratory to create a culture.

Is any special preparation needed?

You may need to avoid food, drink and certain medications for a period of time before the test.

What are the risk factors?

The test is fairly safe. There is a chance of choking, gagging or damage to internal organs from the endoscope, but it’s a small risk.

Reviewed by: Carrie Firestone Baum, MD

This page was last updated on: September 16, 2025 12:42 PM

Gastroenterology

Specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders for infants, children and adolescents. 

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