Blood Culture Test
200 Kshs | Home Collection Available
Synonyms
Culture, Blood, Routine, Blood Culture Test
Purpose
Blood Culture Test checks for pathogens, such as bacteria, in the blood. The test is usually prescribed in diagnosing a blood infection.
Blood Culture Patient Preparation
The patient may be required to stop taking certain medications and supplements.
Samples
Collect 16 to 20 mL of whole blood from adults and 1 to 4 mL from pediatric patients. Use one aerobic and one anaerobic blood culture bottle for adults, or one pediatric bottle for children.
For suspected bacteremia in adults, collect two sets of blood culture bottles (aerobic and anaerobic) from two separate venipuncture sites.
Inoculate the aerobic bottle first, since the collection set line contains approximately 0.5 mL of air. Avoid underfilling or overfilling the bottles, as it may affect the accuracy of results.
If ordering more than one culture, draw the specimens separately, at intervals of no less than 30 minutes. Indicate the time of each collection.
Ensure strict aseptic technique during the procedure. Maintain the samples at room temperature.
Reference Range
Presence/Absence of growth
Results Turnaround
5 – 6 days after receipt of samples.
Diseases / Diagnostic Indicators
When your blood culture tests positive for blood infection, you have bacteria or fungi in your bloodstream. These infections cause symptoms such as sweating, fever, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and gastrointestinal issues like vomiting.
In addition, based on the severity, blood infections are often a signal for diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, or endocarditis. Subsequently, if left untreated, these diseases can progress to sepsis, which causes organ failure and tissue damage.
For a deeper understanding of blood culture testing and its clinical applications, check out this study on bloodstream infections.