Alberta Precision Laboratories

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Organization:	Alberta Precision Laboratories

Message Alert:	PLEASE NOTE: This Test Directory is in an interim state and due to changes pertaining to the DynaLIFE transition, performing site for routing has not been updated. Please refer to Laboratory Information System for appropriate routing.

Test Name/Synonym:	Blood Culture, Routine (Synonym: Bacteremia, Candidemia, Sepsis, Endocarditis)
Pathogen:	Bacteria and Yeast
Collection Alert:	DO NOT USE contaminated bottles. Check bottles for signs of contamination before use: Bottle media appears cloudy Bulging or indented septums or there is gas Bottom of the Biomerieux BacT/ALERT^® bottle is bright yellow DO NOT USE damaged bottles: Check for cracked or distended bottles or bottles that have lost their caps. A star-like crack pattern on the bottom of the bottle is consistent with a drop or impact that has compromised the container. Check that the fluorescent material at the base of the BD BACTEC^™ vial has not separated from the glass. DO NOT USE bottles past the expiry date
Shipping and Handling Alert:	Accurate results depend on the specimen being received in Microbiology laboratory as soon as possible. Blood culture specimens should be sent to the laboratory immediately after collection. Specimens must be received in the testing laboratory within 4 hours of collection if collected in Calgary, Edmonton, or at a hospital with a Microbiology laboratory, and 24 hours for other collection locations.
LABID (Connect Care):	LAB462

Specimen Type:	Blood or fluids
Specimen Source:	Blood, Arterial Blood, Central Line Blood, Venous Blood, Peripheral Blood, Umbilical Cord Blood, ECMO
Primary Container:	Blood Culture Vials: Aerobic & Anaerobic
Alternate Containers:	Pediatric Blood Culture Vial
Minimum Collection Volume:	See “Specimen collection requirements” below
Specimen Collection Requirements:	Refer to Blood Culture Collection Guideline Venipuncture is the technique of choice for obtaining blood for culture. Arterial blood cultures are not recommended and are not associated with a higher diagnostic yields than venous blood cultures. Blood cultures should, whenever possible, be collected before administration of antimicrobial agents, therefore may be ordered and collected stat. Blood culture bottles are used for collection. If other blood work is to be collected, collect the blood cultures first. In adults and children weighing greater than 30 kg, TWO sets blood culture specimens are drawn from two different venipuncture sites for a total of 40 mL (10 mL per bottle). For pediatric patients less than 30 kg refer to Blood Culture Collection Guideline Patients weighing greater than 30 kg, collect blood cultures as follows: Set 1: Collect one aerobic bottle and one anaerobic bottle from the same site. Set 2: Choose a separate site from a different arm and collect one aerobic bottle and one anaerobic bottle. If only one arm is available, a different location on the same arm may be used. If a different location on the same arm is not possible then use of same vein is acceptable. For suspect catheter-related blood stream infections collect one set from the catheter and the other from a venipuncture site. For suspected cases of infectious endocarditis or endovascular disease, a third set is required. Set 3: Collect this set at least 1 hour after initial collection of Set 1 and 2. Collect one aerobic vial and one anaerobic bottle. If brucellosis or tularemia or other fastidious organisms (e.g. fungi other than Candida) are suspected this must be clearly marked on the requisition or in the electronic order. Ordering physician must obtain site Microbiologist on Call approval for requests for more than 3 sets per 24-hour period, before collection. Repeat blood cultures within 48 hours of the initial collection are generally NOT recommended.
Test Resources:	Order in Connect Care, or use Community Microbiology Requisition - 20571
Stability and Storage:	Room temperature. DO NOT refrigerate. DO NOT incubate.
Processing:	Accurate results depend on the specimen being received in Microbiology laboratory as soon as possible. Calgary Zone: Check the bottom of each collected bottle; if it is yellow, transport to DSC STAT (indicates possible growth in bottles). Label bottles correctly. Refer to Filling and Labelling Biomerieux BacT - ALERT Blood Culture Bottles - CGY
Transportation:	Immediately transport the blood culture bottles to the laboratory. Transport at room temperature. Bottles transported via the pneumatic tube system should be packaged with extra padding to ensure bottles do not incur damage due to impacts inside the carrier.
Routine Turn Around Time:	Negative culture: 5 days (Preliminary Report: 48 hours)

Testing Schedule:	Daily Blood cultures are monitored continuously for 5 days

Critical Value:	Positive for micro-organisms (gram or culture)
Testing Area:	Microbiology

Performing Site:	Calgary Diagnostic and Scientific Centre Red Deer Regional Hospital Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Northern Lights Regional Health Centre Chinook Regional Hospital Medicine Hat Regional Hospital Edmonton Base Lab

Last Updated On:	Thursday, February 20, 2025

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