Culture, Blood Routine Aerobic/Anaerobic

Culture, Blood Routine Aerobic / Anaerobic

Alternate Test Name

Blood Culture Aerobic / Anaerobic

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB462
BLC

Category

Microbiology

Methodology

Continuous Blood Culture Monitoring System

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday - Saturday

Result Availability

• Preliminary Positive: As positive results detected
• Preliminary Negative: 1 day
• Final Negative: 5 days
NOTE: Requests for extended incubation based on specific organism is available upon request

Container

Adults: Green (Aerobic) and Orange (Anaerobic) Blood Culture bottles
Pediatrics: Green (Aerobic) Blood Culture bottle

Volume

Adults:

Pref. Vol.: 20.0 mL

Pediatrics:
Pref. Vol.: Based on weight (refer to chart)

Collection Instructions

Choose Skin Antiseptic Based Upon Age:
• If patient is < 2 months old – 70% Isopropyl Triple Swabstik Pouch
• If patient is > 2 months old – CloraPrep Triple Swabstik Pouch

Prepare Site for Venipuncture:
• Choose a vein by touching the skin and palpating before the site has been disinfected
• Tear Swabstick Pouch at side notch (DO NOT touch swab applicator tip)
• Remove one applicator from pouch, assuring sterility, and press swab against skin using back and forth motion to scrub for 30 seconds
• Allow area to dry completely – do not blot, wipe away, fan or blow on treated area
• When first preparation has dried, remove the second swabstik and repeat cleansing of area.
• While site is drying, prepare the culture bottles by wiping the top septum with the third swabstick and allow to dry completely before inoculating bottles
• If palpation of the vein is necessary after skin disinfection, the gloved finger should be cleaned with the antiseptic agent and allowed to dry before touching venipuncture site
• check the fluid level on each blood culture bottle and mark the “Fill to here” line

Specimen Collection (Syringe Method):
• Place tourniquet above venipuncture site
• Insert needle into the vein and withdraw required volume of blood
• Inoculate the bottles – Pierce septum on anaerobic bottle (orange) with the safety transfer device and add 10 mL of blood into the bottle. Add remaining blood to aerobic bottle (green)

Specimen Collection (Butterfly – Adapter Cap Method):
• Place tourniquet above venipuncture site
• Tightly connect the adapter cap to the luer connection of the butterfly blood collection set
• Insert needle into the vein and
• Place the adapter cap on the aerobic bottle (green) septum and press down to penetrate and obtain blood flow – DO NOT inoculate anaerobic bottle (orange) first when collecting with butterfly.
• Hold adapter cap down on the bottle during collection until the blood has reached the desired fill mark
• Remove the adapter cap from the bottle
• Follow above steps to fill anaerobic bottle (orange)

• Label blood culture bottles with patient name, date of birth, date and time of collection

Transportation Instructions

Room temperature
Do NOT refrigerate or incubate prior to arrival at the Microbiology Laboratory

Stability

• Room Temperature: 24 hours
• Refrigerated: UNACCEPTABLE
• Frozen: UNACCEPTABLE

Causes for Rejection

• Blood culture bottles broth cloudy
• Bottle sensor not intact
• Sensor off color (should be green)
• Blood culture bottle overfilled
• No patient identification on blood culture bottles

Remarks

If possible, collect specimens prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy. Otherwise, document current therapy on requisition or order
If more than 1 culture is requested, collect specimens from separately prepared sites
Strict aseptic technique is essential

CPT Codes

87040

Effective/Revised

7/28/21

Blood Stream Infections (BSI) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Detecting microbial pathogens present in the blood stream is critical for appropriate antimicrobial therapy and optimal patient outcomes.

Blood culture detection rates and time to detection can be optimized by using maximum draw volumes and appropriate numbers of sets: