Sign in →

Test Code LAB462 Blood Culture

Additional Codes:

C BLOOD

Notes:

See the table in the MUSC Medical Policy SYS - Blood Culture Specimen Collection that indicates the number of and times to draw culture(s) for specific clinical indications.

UNACCEPTABLE/REJECTED SPECIMENS:

  • Mycobacterial blood culture bottles
  • Blood collected in any anticoagulant
  • Coagulated blood.

Collection:

Specimen: Blood

Container: Adult Aerobic & Anaerobic bottles; Pediatric Aerobic Blood Culture bottle

Volume: See table below

 

Patient Weight          Recommended volume to be collected for each 
culture (1 "stick" = 1 culture) based on patient weight
<4.5 lbs (2.0 kg) See Medical Center policy -  SYS Blood Culture Specimen Collection
https://musc.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14964
4.5 - 27 lbs. (2.0 - 12.2 kg)  3 ml in Aerobic bottle only
28 - 80 lbs (12.2 - 36.3 kg) 5 ml in Aerobic bottle and 5 ml in Anaerobic bottle (10 ml total)
> 80 lbs (>36.3 kg) 10 ml in Aerobic bottle and 10 ml in Anaerobic bottle (20 ml total)

Storage Instructions:

Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: Unacceptable

Turnaround Time (TAT):

Cultures read continuously for 5 days. Positive Gram stain reports are called per Critical Result Policy.

Negatives are reported daily.

Identification performed on positive cultures as indicated.

Test Availability:

24 hours a day / 7 Days a week

Request Form:

Microbiology – Green Request Form

Send To:

UMC MAIN LABORATORY Specimen Receiving – EH318 Children’s Hospital

Reference Interval:

No bacteria or yeast isolated.