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Blood Culture

eDH Procedure Code(s)

LAB462 Blood culture

Test Information

  • For guidance on when to order a blood culture refer to Dartmouth Health Guidance on Blood Culture (BCX) Ordering for Adults.
  • Blood Cultures are held for 5 days.
  • Positive blood cultures are critical results and reported to a licensed healthcare provider, 24/7/365. If a blood culture is positive, a multiplex qualitative PCR test is performed that identifies the most common sepsis-causing bacteria and yeast as well as key antibiotic resistance markers. For more details click here.
  • Yeast and "HACEK" organisms grow reliably during the standard 5-day blood culture incubation period if present.
  • To rule out dimorphic fungus (e.g. Histoplasma capsulatum, order Fungus Culture, Blood [LAB242] (Note: different specimen container requirement)

Collection Questions

  • Site of blood draw
  • Was Steripath used for collection?
  • Reason Steripath NOT used:

Collection Information

DO NOT place labels on the bottom of blood culture bottles, this interferes with the instrument bacterial detection process.

Specimen Information

Specimen Type Specimen Source Acceptable Containers Minimum Test Volume (mL)
Blood Blood, Venous BCxPed-R 3.0
Blood Blood, Venous BCx-A 10.0

Shipping and Handling

Processing Instructions: Do not affix labels on the bottom of blood culture bottes as this interferes with the instrument bacterial detection process.

Transport Temperature: Ambient

Specimen Stability
Ambient: 24 hours
Refrigerated: n/a
Frozen: n/a

Test Components

Component LOINC Code
BLOOD CULTURE 600-7
GRAM STAIN 664-3

Turnaround Time (TAT)

5 Days

CPT Code(s)

87040

Performing Lab Section

Microbiology

Performing Lab(s)

Cheshire Medical Center Laboratory (CHE)
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Laboratory (MHMH)