Blood and Bone Marrow culture

Description: 
Blood culture a key test in the management of patients with suspected sepsis/bloodstream infection including those with infective endocarditis, bacteraemia. Samples are placed on a continual monitoring automated blood culture system for upto 5 days. Please indicate where high risk organisms are implicated (such as Neisseria meningitidis, Salmonella typhi). Adult bottles come as a set of 2 ( 1 aerobic and 1 anaerobic) with an optimum fill of 10ml for Paediatric patients please use aerobic bottle only (blue cap). Please ensure patient labels are placed vertically (not around the bottle) or over the bar code as both are required to barcoded on to the analyser. Microbiology will perform microscopy, isolation, identification and susceptibility of any organism likely to be pathogenic. Turn around time 5 days for negatives, positive cultures usually present sooner, significant Gram stain and culture results are telephoned to the ward or clinical team by Microbiology Clinical staff. Occasionally it is appropriate to culture bone marrow in blood culture bottles (e.g. brucella) – please contact Infection SpR (bleep 0132) for advice.
Clinical details: 
PUO, Pyrexia, sepsis, fever, septic shock
Synonyms or keywords: 
blood culture, bone marrow
Sample type and Volume required: 
Blood culture set consists of Aerobic bottles (blue cap): 8 - 10ml blood and Anaerobic bottles (purple cap): 8 -10ml blood, Paediatric patients please use aerobic bottle only (blue cap): 3-10ml blood
Note: If using Electronic Patient Record (EPR) please use Blood Culture Other order code for Bone marrow 5-10 ml
Please ensure patient EPR labels are placed vertically (not around the bottle) or over the bar code as both are required to barcoded on to the analyser.
Please supply relevant clinical information, including differential diagnosis, appropriate travel history, antibiotic therapy, confirmed or suspected blood borne viruses, PUO with travel history, exposure to animals etc.
Call in advance: 
Occasionally it is appropriate to culture bone marrow in blood culture bottles (e.g. brucella) – please contact Infection SpR (bleep 0132) for advice.
Turnaround time: 
Positive results notified immediately. An interim negative report is sent out at 36 hours. Final negative results after 5 days.
Special sample instructions: 

Blood culture set consists of two bottles available on Wards.  Blue-topped bottles only for Paediatrics. When taking blood from the patient to inoculate blood culture bottles, ensure that aseptic procedures are adhered to. Disinfect the skin around the sampling site to reduce contamination with skin flora.

Storage and transport: 
Inoculated blood culture bottles must be transported by porter, to Central Specimen Reception (CSR) in a sealed transport bag, to the laboratory for incubation as soon as possible.
Contacts:
Infection Sciences Department at St Thomas' Hospital
020 7188 8008
St Thomas' Hospital
North Wing - 5th Floor
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Core opening hours: Monday-Friday 0900-1730


For clinical advice or interpretation of results, please contact the laboratory in the first instance.

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Last updated: 06/10/2023