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HelpTest Code LAB462 Blood Culture
Test Performed By
Cayuga Medical Center, Main Laboratory
Container Name
Blood Culture Set (BC)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
CPT Codes
87040
Temperature
Ambient
Specimen Collection Instructions
Blood Culture Fill Lines Labeling
Collect using aerobic and anaerobic culture bottles (5-10 mL per bottle required). All blood culture bottles will be collected with green and orange bottle sets, regardless of whether or not the patient has been on antibiotics.
Yellow bottles for difficult draws or pediatric patients (0.5-4mL required). Transport to lab as soon as possible at room temperature.
Positive blood cultures will have rapid blood culture identification and/or sensitivity testing reflexed, when applicable.
The Cepheid Xpert MRSA/SA Blood Culture Assay detects Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) DNA directly from the positive blood bottle.
The Accelerate PhenoTest tests for the following organism targets: S. aureus, S. lugdunenesis, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus spp, E. faecalis, E. faecium, Streptococcus spp, E. coli, Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, Proteus spp, Citrobacter spp, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Applicable organisms will also have rapid sensitivity testing performed directly from the positive blood bottle.
Clinical and Interpretive
Bacteremia results when bacteria multiply at a rate that exceeds removal by phagocytes. The clinical pattern of bacteremia may be transient, intermittent, or continuous. Transient bacteremia often occurs after manipulative procedures (dental procedures, cystoscopy) or surgery in contaminated areas of the body. Undrained abscesses (intraabdominal, pelvic, hepatic) may result in intermittent bacteremia. A hallmark feature of subacute bacterial endocarditis is a continuous bacteremia.
The sources of bacteremia are the genitourinary tract (25%), the respiratory tract (20%), abscesses (10%), surgical wounds (5%), the biliary tract (5%), other known sites (10%), and unknown sites (25%). As a general guideline, 2 sets of cultures should be collected per febrile episode in adult patients, no more than 4 blood culture sets should be collected in a 24-hour period, and blood cultures should be collected prior to the administration of antibiotics.
Specimen Type
Whole Blood
Specimen Volume
10mL/bottle
Minimum Specimen Volume
5mL/bottle