|
Blood Cultures |
(Microbiology) |
Investigation: Culture and sensitivity
Inform lab before sending: No
Specimen type: Blood
Ideal time to take specimen: Time of spiking temperatures if applicable
Labelling Requirements:
Each Blood culture bottle must have:
- Unit number or date of birth
- Full name (forename and surname)
- Specimen type and line site (if applicable)
- Date of collection
Request form must have:
- Unit number or date of birth
- Full name (forename and surname)
- Location
- Specimen type and line site (if applicable)
- Date of collection
- Clinical Information
DO NOT REMOVE BARCODES FROM BOTTLES – THEY ARE FOR LABORATORY USE ONLY
DO NOT STICK ADDRESSOGRAPHS OVER BARCODES
Full Aseptic Procedure covered in Blood Culture Specimen Collection Pack.
Blood culture sets usually comprise 2 bottles, one aerobic (blue cap) and one anaerobic (purple cap) Paediatric patients - use a single bottle (pink cap)
How to take specimen: Ensure that the rubber caps have been wiped with alcohol in advance of the blood being taken and allow alcohol to evaporate to dryness prior to
inoculation. Using Aseptic Non-Touch Technique (ANTT) and the Vacuette collection system to obtain and inoculate 10ml into each bottle, the aerobic bottle (green cap) should be inoculated first.
8-10mL per bottle is required to ensure validity of the test and maximum pathogen recovery potential. Underfilling bottles may lead to under recovery of pathogens.
0.5-4.0 ml should be inoculated into paediatric bottles (pink cap)
Blood cultures can be sent directly to the laboratory via porter or using the POD system (333), Blood cultures taken out of hours can be sent via the POD or placed at room temperature pending transport to the laboratory.
Transport to the laboratory:Do not place in refrigerators
Blood cultures from offsite locations (LWH, Broadgreen) are transported to the Microbiology laboratory via a courier during normal laboratory hours.
Test Times: 7 days a week
Turnaround: Negative report at 48 hours, final report within 8 days.
Additional information:Patients who are suspected of having infective endocarditis should have three sets of cultures taken by separate venepunctures. If a patient has a long line in situ (CVP, Hickman etc),
an additional set of bottles should be inoculated with blood taken through EACH lumen (indicating that this is the case on the request form).
Additional Examination Requests:If culture for Mycobacteria is required blood needs to be sent in Mycobacterial blood bottles - see Mycobacteria section.
Back
Home