Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Blood culture is considered to be the “gold standard” investigation for the detection of micro-organisms in blood. The culture of micro-organisms from blood is essential for microbiological diagnosis of bacteraemia, fungaemia, infective endocarditis and conditions associated with a clinical presentation of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO).
Blood culture is also important for the diagnosis of prosthetic device infections (eg joints and vascular grafts) and intravascular line-associated sepsis. Blood cultures may also detect bloodstream infections associated with other conditions such as pneumonia, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis.
Specimen container paediatric:
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle.
Specimen container adult:
Blood in Blood Culture Bottle.
Minimum volume paediatric:
2-4ml
Minimum volume adult:
10 ml
Special requirements:
Collect using aseptic non-touch techniques preferably before administering antibiotics. Send to laboratory as quickly as possible.
Fluids other than venous blood can be added (joint fluid , CAPD fluid for example) for culture of micro-organisms.
Sample stability:
Stable for up to 24 hrs.
Transport requirements:
Samples must be transported to Microbiology as soon as possible (air transport system can be used).
Add on test:
N/A
Quality assurance:
UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS) and Labquality
Interpretation:
Interpretative comments are added to reports where applicable.
Reference ranges:
N/A
Factors affecting result:
Bottles should arrive in the department no longer than 24 hours after collection. Failure to do this may result in inaccurate results. Bottles should not be refridgerated and should be kept at room temperature. Low volume (below recommendation) might result to false negative.
Referenced documents:
Standards of Microbiology Investigations (SMI S12)
Other Info
Turnaround time might be extended if fastidious organism is suspected or when endocarditis is suspected