What is Culture-Blood?
Blood culture is important in patients who are severely ill and in those who are at high risk of developing severe infection e.g. neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients. The blood culture test gives much-needed information on the organism involved to enable a better treatment plan.
A Culture Blood Test is a blood test done to identify infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms. It is used in the diagnosis of sepsis and other systemic infections that may not be detected in other ways. The culture can help the doctor determine the kind of microbe causing the infection, which is important for selecting the right treatment.
How is the Test Performed?
The Test is simple and the following steps are included;
Preparation
- No special preparation is needed for a blood culture test. However, it is suggested to inform your healthcare provider if you are
- currently on any medications as some antibiotics can interfere with the result.
- If a patient is on antibiotics, the doctor may tell the patient not to take the medicine before the test.
- It is advised that patients remain well-hydrated and do not consume alcohol prior to the test.
Sample Collection
- The healthcare provider obtains a blood sample using a method that is sterile to avoid contamination.
- Blood is generally taken from the arm by a healthcare professional using a sterile syringe or vacuum-sealed blood collection container.
- In the case of severe infection, it is recommended that samples be taken from different areas to increase the likelihood of detection.
Laboratory Analysis
- The blood sample is placed in a blood culture bottle which provides the appropriate culture media for bacterial and fungal growth.
- The process of culturing the sample takes 24-72 hours because the samples are kept in incubation at body temperature to allow any existing microbe to grow.
- Moderna’s automated detection systems grant continuous watching of bacterial or fungal growth within the culture bottles.
What are the symptoms that prompt this test?
Doctors recommend this test when individuals show signs and symptoms of systemic infection including the following;
General Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Fast heartbeat
- Confusion
- Change in mental status
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Night sweats
- Skin rashes and discoloration
- Weight loss without a known reason
What are Normal Ranges for This Test?
The test does not have a normal range rather it gives the results in the form of positive or negative.
Positive – Presence of microbial growth in the culture
Negative – No abnormal growth is detected
**Further testing is required in case of a positive test result.**
What Happens if Test Results Show Abnormal Levels?
If the test result shows the presence of microbial growth, it suggests that a person has an infection. The following treatment is given to the patients;
- Antibiotic therapy, is a course of antibiotics for a specific period of time.
- Hospitalization in severe cases.
- Further testing including biopsies, imaging tests, and specialized cultures.
