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Lab Manual for Moffitt-Long and Mount Zion

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Bacterial Culture, Blood, Aerobic & Anaerobic

Item Value
Approval req'd? No
Available Stat? No
Test code P062
Test group Bacterial Culture
Performed by Microbiology
In House Availability Set up daily, day and evening shifts
Collection Instructions Detailed instructions for collection are available in the Microbiology section of the Lab Manual prologue Click here You will need to scroll down the page to see the BLOOD section.

ChloraPrep Single Swabstick (2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% isopropyl alcohol) has replaced tincture of iodine as the disinfectant in the peripheral blood culture collection kits. Because use of ChloraPrep is contraindicated for patients with sensitivity to chlorhexidine products, the collection instructions in the kits includes the procedure to follow when use of ChloraPrep is contraindicated.

For patients with NO contraindication for use of chlorhexidine products: Cleanse the venipuncture site with ChloraPrep Single Swabstick using a back and forth motion for 30 seconds. Allow it to air dry. NOTE: If skin is soiled, clean with 70% isopropyl alcohol before using ChloraPrep.

For patients with a contraindication for use of Chlorhexidine products, DO NOT USE CHLORAPREP & follow this procedure: Clean skin of venipuncture site with 60-second,/b> friction scrub of 70% isopropyl alcohol to a 5 cm circular area. Apply 10% PVP Iodine to venipuncture site skin in a circular motion to a 5 cm area starting in the center. Allow it to air dry. Following the venipuncture, remove residual iodine from patient's skin with 70% isopropyl alcohol. (Iodine is not included in the blood culture kits.)
Container type Paired blood culture bottles
Amount to Collect 10 mL blood for each bottle
Sample type Blood
Preferred volume 10 mL blood in each bottle
UCSF Rejection Criteria Samples that are not collected per "Collection Instructions"
Processing notes Maintain sample at room temperature
Normal range
Critical value Gram stain results from the first positive blood culture on a patient will be phoned. Additional calls only made if > 7 days have elapsed since first call or a different organism is identified.
Stability 10 hours
Reflex? If bacteria are detected they are identified and susceptibility testing is performed as appropriate.

Full ID and/or susceptibility testing may be omitted upon request when sample is submitted for testing.
Additional information Incubated for 5 days. Brucella culture requires consultation (x3-1268) and a special collection tube.
CPT coding 87040
LOINC code 600-7
Last Updated 5/1/2011 5:57:45 PM
Entry Number 86

If you have additional questions regarding this test, please call: 415-353-1667

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