Table 2.

Three common microbiological and biochemical wound analysis methods

Test	Swab test	Wound biopsy	Fluid exudate analysis
Methods	Using a metal curette to collect surface colonizing bacteria for bacterial analyses.	Using the “punch” method to isolate tissue from wound bed for analyses.	Collecting wound fluid through syringe aspiration or exudate-soaked dressings for analyses.
Advantages	Relatively noninvasive procedure for wound infection diagnosis.	Can identify wound invading bacteria; suitable for histological analyses.	Analysis of the biomolecules to determine healing potential.
Disadvantages	Unable to detect invading bacteria or analyze other wound conditions.	May damage wound further. Low reproducibility due to sampling limitation.	With limited sample volume, while increasing risk to infection.