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| Test Name: | Blood Culture, Routine |
|---|---|
| Test Code: | 008300 |
| Other Names: | N/A |
| Test Includes: | Blood Culture, Routine |
| Specimen Requirements: | Whole blood, Adults: 16-20 mL total; 8-10 mL per aerobic and anaerobic bottle. Pediatrics: up to 4 mL in one pediatric bottle; as age increases so should the volume of blood collected. Do not add more than 10 mL of blood to either the aerobic or anaerobic bottles, or |
| Container: | One aerobic and one anaerobic blood culture bottle for adults or one pediatric bottle. Do NOT vent. |
| Collection Instructions: | Use adult or pediatric blood culture collection kits provided by LabCorp. See the Procedural Chart for Blood Culture Collection provided in each collection kit for detailed information regarding bottle preparation, venipuncture, and bottle inoculation. Blood culutres should be drawn prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy. The time of collection must be indicated. Strict aseptic technique is essential. If more than one culture is ordered, the specimens should be drawn separately at no less than 30 minutes apart to rule out the possibility of transient bacteremia by self-manipulation by the patient of mucous membranes in the mouth caused by brushing teeth, etc, or by local irritations caused by scratching of the skin. *Suspected sepsis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, arthritis, listeriosis, or acute untreated bacterial pneumonia: Obtain two blood cultures from two different sites, such a the left and right arms. *Fever of unknown origin such as that caused by an occult abscess: Obtain two blood cultures initially. If those are negative, obtain two more 24 to 36 hours later. The yield beyond three or four cultures is virtually nil in this condition. *Suspected early typhoid fever and brucellosis: Obtain four blood cultures over 24 to 36 hours due to low-grade bacteremia involved in these rarely seen diseases. *Endocarditis (acute infective endocarditis): Obtain three blood cultures from three separate venipuncture sites during the first one to two hours and begin therapy. *Subacute infective endocarditis: Obtain three blood cultures within the first 24 hours, ideally within no less than hourly intervals. If all are negative at 24 hours, obtain two more. The yield beyond five blood cultures in subacute and endocarditis is virtually nil. |
| Stability: | Maintain specimen at room temperature. Do NOT refrigerate. |
| Rejection Criteria / Special Instructions: | The request form MUST state clinical diagnosis and time of collection. List current antibiotic therapy, clinical diagnosis, and any special organisms suspected or to rule out. MUST indicate if culture is for Brucella or Francisella. Do NOT use expired blo |
| Methodology: | Culture |