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HelpTest 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
See Medical Center policy - SYS Blood Culture Specimen Collection
https://musc.policytech.com/dotNet/documents/?docid=14964
|
Patient weight (kgs) |
Patient estimated total blood volume /ml |
Draw for culture set #1 (ml) |
Draw for culture set #2 (ml) |
Total volume of blood /ml in both bottles |
% Total blood volume drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Less than 1* |
50 – 99 |
1ml (pink or blue) |
1ml (pink or blue) |
2 |
4 |
|
1.1 – 2 |
100 – 200 |
2ml (pink or blue) |
2ml (pink or blue) |
4 |
4 |
|
2.1 – 12.7 |
Greater than 200 |
3ml (pink or blue) |
3ml (pink or blue) |
6 |
3 |
|
12.8 – 36.3 |
Greater than 800 |
5ml (blue) + 5ml (purple) |
5ml (blue) + 5ml (purple) |
20 |
2.5 |
|
Greater than 36.3 |
Greater than 2,200 |
10ml (blue) + 10ml (purple) |
10ml (blue) + 10ml (purple)
|
40 |
1.8 |
* Exception: newborn infants up to 12 hrs old draw 1 ml for 1 culture
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.