Blood Culture
Clinical Background:
Blood culture is considered to be the “gold standard” investigation for the detection of micro-organisms in blood. The culture of micro-organisms from blood is essential for microbiological diagnos...
Blood culture is considered to be the “gold standard” investigation for the detection of micro-organisms in blood. The culture of micro-organisms from blood is essential for microbiological diagnosis of bacteraemia, fungaemia, infective endocarditis and conditions associated with a clinical presentation of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO).
Blood culture is also important for the diagnosis of prosthetic device infections (eg joints and vascular grafts) and intravascular line-associated sepsis. Blood cultures may also detect bloodstream infections associated with other conditions such as pneumonia, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.
Test Details
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Discipline:
Microbiology
Microbiology
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Specimen Container Adult:
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle
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Specimen Container Paediatric:
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle
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Minimum Volume Adult:
10 ml
10 ml
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Minimum Volume Paediatric:
3-5 ml
3-5 ml
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Special Requirement:
Collect using aseptic non-touch techniques preferably before administering antibiotics. Send to laboratory as quickly as possible.
Collect using aseptic non-touch techniques preferably before administering antibiotics. Send to laboratory as quickly as possible.
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Sample Stability:
Stable for up to 24 hours
Stable for up to 24 hours
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Transport Requirements:
Samples must be transported to Microbiology as soon as possible (air transport system can be used)
Samples must be transported to Microbiology as soon as possible (air transport system can be used)
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Add On Test:
N/A
N/A
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Quality Assurance:
UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS)
UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS)
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Interpretation:
Interpretative comments are added to reports where applicable
Interpretative comments are added to reports where applicable
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Reference Ranges:
N/A
N/A
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Factors Affecting Result:
Bottles should arrive in the department no longer than 24 hours after collection. Failure to do this may result in inaccurate results. Bottles should not be fridge and should be kept at room temper...
Read MoreBottles should arrive in the department no longer than 24 hours after collection. Failure to do this may result in inaccurate results. Bottles should not be fridge and should be kept at room temperature.
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Referenced Documents:
Standards of Microbiology Investigations (SMI B 37)
Standards of Microbiology Investigations (SMI B 37)