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Test Code BC Culture, Blood

Methodology

Conventional Culture Technique

Note:  If 1 or more pathogens are isolated, antibiotic sensitivities (minimum inhibitory concentration) will be performed at an additional charge for each pathogen.

Performing Laboratory

Aspen Valley Hospital

Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 6 hours of draw.

 

1. Draw 17 mL (minimum volume:  13 mL) of blood and place 10 mL in BD® BACTECTM Plus Aerobic/F bottle (grey-top) and 7 mL (minimum volume:  5 mL) in BD® BACTECTM Lytic/10 Anaerobic F bottle (purple-top).

2. If ≤3 mL of blood is drawn, place entire amount (minimum volume:  1 mL) of blood in BD® BACTECTM Peds PlusTM F bottle (pink-cap).

3. Label bottle(s) with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  1. Specimen should be drawn prior to antibiotic administration whenever possible.

2. Two separate blood cultures drawn from different sites are recommended unless endocarditis is suspected.

3. Blood drawn by venipuncture is preferred. If drawing blood from arterial line or catheter, note on test requisition and record source on blood culture bottle(s).

4. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Reference Values

No pathogens isolated

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87040 - culture (times number ordered)

87186 - antimicrobial susceptibilities (if appropriate)