Microbiology

Name

Alternative name/Profile

Department

Investigation

Specimen type

Sample type

Sample container & volume

Frequency of analysis

Turnaround time

Availability

Notes

Blood Culture samples are  urgent samples and should be delivered to the Microbiology Laboratory Immediately

External hospitals referring Blood Culture samples to Microbiology St James’s Hospital:When sending a blood culture specimen, it is essential to ensure that the date and time of collection are recorded on specimen request form.

Positive blood culture Microscopy results are telephoned to clinical personnel responsible for the care of the patient as soon as the microscopy result is available.These results are available within 4 hours of detection of a positive blood culture bottle.  Positive culture identification & susceptibility results are reported as soon as available

*Turn around time can be up to 21 days depending on clinical details. Positive reports are telephoned to the ward as soon as detected.

For optimum sensitivity, two sets of blood cultures should be collected from separate sites within a 24 h period. These should be taken at least 20 min apart. 

For patients with suspected endocarditis, three sets should be collected. Look for a focus of infection and culture those sites appropriate to a suspected focus.

When taking a blood culture observe standard precautions, wash hands, carefully disinfect the skin with alcohol, allow to dry, wear sterile gloves, insert vacutainer into vein, collect 10 ml of blood into an aerobic and 10 ml into an anaerobic blood culture bottle.  Please see Infection Control Manual for detailed description of blood culture technique.

Yeasts and fungi may be detected in the normal blood culture system.

**Adequate volume is the single most important factor in the Laboratory detection of microorganisms in the blood stream: the more blood cultured the more likely a culture will be positive, however, it is important to not overfill the bottles as this may cause false positive readings. False negatives may occur if inadequate blood culture volumes are submitted.

Blood culture- must be transported to the laboratory immediately- if there is a delay, bottles should be stored at room temperature

Related links

We employ an automated blood culture device in our department, the Biomerieux BacTAlert Virtuo system.

Reference range

N/A

Last updated

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:12:53 GMT