Blood Culture, Routine

CPT: 87040
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Synonyms

  • Culture, Blood, Routine

Test Includes

Culture; isolation, identification, and susceptibility testing (additional charges/CPT code[s] may apply). CPT coding for microbiology and virology procedures often cannot be determined before the culture is performed. Requests with only a written order and no test number indicated will be processed according to Default Testing for Mycology, Mycobacteriology, and Other Reference Microbiology Testing..


Special Instructions

The test request form must state clinical diagnosis and time of collection. List current antibiotic therapy, clinical diagnosis, and any special organisms suspected or to rule out. Must indicate if culture is for Brucella or Francisella. Do not use expired blood culture media.


Expected Turnaround Time

5 - 6 days


Related Information


Related Documents

For more information, please view the literature below.

Microbiology Specimen Collection and Transport Guide


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Whole blood


Volume

Adult: 16 to 20 mL total; 8 to 10 mL per aerobic and anaerobic bottle. Pediatric: up to 4 mL in one pediatric bottle; as age increases so should the volume of blood collected. Do not add more than 10 mL of blood to either the aerobic or anaerobic bottles, or more than 4 mL of blood to a pediatric bottle. The aerobic bottle has no minimum volume requirement.


Container

One aerobic and one anaerobic blood culture bottle for adults or one pediatric bottle. Do not vent.


Collection

Use adult or pediatric blood culture collection kits provided by LabCorp. See the Procedural Chart for Blood Culture Collection provided in each collection kit for detailed information regarding bottle preparation, venipuncture, and bottle inoculation. Blood cultures should be drawn prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy. The time of collection must be indicated. Strict aseptic technique is essential. If more than one culture is ordered, the specimens should be drawn separately at no less than 30 minutes apart to rule out the possibility of transient bacteremia due to self-manipulation by the patient of mucous membranes in the mouth caused by brushing teeth, etc, or by local irritations caused by scratching of the skin.

• Suspected sepsis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, arthritis, listeriosis, or acute untreated bacterial pneumonia: Obtain two blood cultures from two different sites, such as the left and right arms.

• Fever of unknown origin such as that caused by an occult abscess: Obtain two blood cultures initially. If those are negative, obtain two more 24 to 36 hours later. The yield beyond three or four cultures is virtually nil in this condition.

• Suspected early typhoid fever and brucellosis: Obtain four blood cultures during 24 to 36 hours due to low-grade bacteremia involved in these rarely seen diseases.

• Endocarditis (acute infective endocarditis): Obtain three blood cultures from three separate venipuncture sites during the first one to two hours and begin therapy.

• Subacute infective endocarditis: Obtain three blood cultures within the first 24 hours, ideally within no less than hourly intervals. If all are negative at 24 hours, obtain two more. The yield beyond five blood cultures in subacute and endocarditis is virtually nil.


Storage Instructions

Maintain specimen at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.


Patient Preparation

The major difficulty in interpretation of blood cultures is potential contamination by skin flora. This difficulty can be markedly reduced by careful attention to the details of skin preparation and antisepsis prior to collection of the specimen.

Skin preparation: First cleanse the venipuncture site with isopropanol. Then use an antiseptic swabstick to disinfect the site, using progressively larger concentric circles. This prepping agent should remain in contact with the skin for 30 seconds and be allowed to dry to ensure adequate disinfection. The venipuncture site must not be palpated after preparation. Blood is then safely drawn.


Causes for Rejection

Unlabeled specimen or name discrepancy between specimen and request label; bottles received broken; blood culture bottles received after a prolonged delay (usually more than 72 hours); blood not received in blood culture bottles; expired blood culture bottle


Test Details


Use

Isolate and identify potentially pathogenic organisms causing bacteremia; establish the diagnosis of endocarditis


Limitations

Three negative sets of blood cultures in the absence of antimicrobial therapy are usually sufficient to exclude the presence of bacteremia. One set is seldom ever sufficient.1 Prior antibiotic therapy may cause negative blood cultures or delayed growth. Blood cultures from patients suspected of having Brucella must be requested as special cultures. Consultation with the laboratory for special culture procedures for the recovery of these organisms prior to collecting the specimen is recommended. Yeast often are isolated from routine blood cultures; however, if yeast or other fungi are specifically suspected, a separate fungal blood culture should be drawn along with each of the routine blood culture specimens. See separate list for proper collection of Fungus (Mycology) Culture [008482]. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is frequently recovered from blood of immunocompromised patients, particularly those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Special procedures are required for the recovery of these organisms; use Acid-fast (Mycobacteria) Smear and Culture With Reflex to Identification [183753].


Methodology

Culture


Additional Information

Sequential blood cultures in nonendocarditis patients using a 20 mL sample resulted in an 80% positive yield after the first set, a 90% yield after the second set, and a 99% yield after the third set. Volume of blood cultured seems to be more important than the specific culture technique being employed by the laboratory. The isolation of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus poses a critical and difficult clinical dilemma. Although coagulase-negative Staphylococcus is the most commonly isolated organism from blood cultures, only a few (6.3%) of the isolates represent “true” clinically significant bacteremia.2 Conversely, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus is well recognized as a cause of infections involving prosthetic devices, cardiac valves, CSF shunts, dialysis catheters, and indwelling vascular catheters.3 Ultimately, the physician is responsible for determining whether an organism is a contaminant or a pathogen. The decision is based on both laboratory and clinical data. Frequently this determination includes patient data (ie, patient history), physical examination, body temperatures, clinical course, and laboratory data (ie, culture results, white blood cell count, and differential). The number of positive cultures as defined by a venipuncture is the most relevant criterion to use in determining whether an isolate is a contaminant. Clinical experience and judgment may play a significant role in resolving this clinical dilemma.4

In patients who have received antimicrobial drugs, four to six blood cultures may be necessary. Any organism isolated from the blood is usually tested for susceptibility. It is not recommended to culture blood while antimicrobials are present unless verification of an agent's efficacy is needed. This is confirmed with a single culture.

The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is accomplished by blood culture, as well as culture and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid.5 Most children with bacterial meningitis are initially bacteremic.6 See tables.

Blood Culture Collection

Clinical Disease Suspected

Culture Recommendation

Rational

Sepsis, meningitis osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, bacterial pneumonia

Two sets of cultures—one from each of two prepared sites, the second drawn after a brief time interval, then begin therapy.

Assure sufficient sampling in cases of intermittent or low level bacteremia. Minimize the confusion caused by a positive culture resulting from transient bacteremia or skin contamination.

Fever of unknown origin (eg, occult abscess, empyema, typhoid fever, etc)

Two sets of cultures—one from each of two prepared sites, the second drawn after a brief time interval (30 minutes). If cultures are negative after 24 to 48 hours obtain two more sets, preferably prior to an anticipated temperature rise.

The yield after four sets of cultures is minimal. A maximum of three sets per patient per day for three consecutive days is recommended.

Endocarditis

Acute

Obtain three blood culture sets within two hours, then begin therapy.

95% to 99% of acute endocarditis patients (untreated) will yield a positive in one of the first three cultures.

Subacute

Obtain three blood culture sets on day one, repeat if negative after 24 hours. If still negative or if the patient had prior antibiotic therapy, repeat again.

Adequate sample volume despite low level bacteremia or previous therapy should result in a positive yield.

Immunocompromised Host (eg, AIDS)

Septicemia, fungemia mycobacteremia

Obtain two sets of cultures from each of two prepared sites; consider lysis concentration technique to enhance recovery for fungi and broth systems for recovery of mycobacteria.

Low levels of fungemia and mycobacteremia frequently encountered.

Previous Antimicrobial Therapy

Septicemia, bacteremia; monitor effect of antimicrobial therapy

Obtain two sets of cultures from each of two prepared sites; increased volume >10 mL/set.

Recovery of organisms is enhanced by dilution and increased sample volume.

Interpretation of Positive Blood Cultures*

*Adapted from Flournoy DJ, Adkins L. Understanding the blood culture report. Am J Infect Control. 1986 Feb; 14(1):41-46.

Virtually any organism, including normal flora, can cause bacteremia.

A negative culture result does not necessarily rule out bacteremia; false-negative results occur when pathogens fail to grow.

A positive culture result does not necessarily indicate bacteremia; false-positive results occur when contaminants grow.

Gram-negative bacilli, anaerobes, and fungi should be considered pathogens until proven otherwise.

The most difficult interpretation problem is to determine whether an organism that is usually considered normal skin flora is a true pathogen.


Footnotes

1. Aronson MD, Bor DH. Blood cultures. Ann Intern Med. 1987 Feb; 106(2):246-253. 3541726
2. Archer GL. Coagulase-negative staphylococci in blood cultures: The clinician's dilemma. Infect Control. 1985 Dec; 6(12):477-478 (editorial). 3908356
3. Sheagren JN. Significance of blood culture isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis.Arch Intern Med. 1987 Apr; 147(4):635. 3827448
4. Flournoy DJ, Adkins L. Understanding the blood culture report. Am J Infect Control. 1986 Feb; 14(1):41-46. 3513668
5. Francke E. The many causes of meningitis. Postgrad Med. 1987 Aug; 82(2):175-188. 3615311
6. Feigin RD, McCracken GH Jr, Klein JO. Diagnosis and management of meningitis.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992 Sep; 11(9):785-814. 1448332

References

MacLowry JD. Clinical microbiology of bacteremia: An overview. Am J Med. 1983 Jul 28, 75(1B):2-6. 6349341
Reller BL, Murray PR, MacLowry JD. Blood Cultures II. Cumitech 1A. Washington, DC: ASM Press; 1982 (review).
Salfinger M, Stool EW, Piot D, Heifets L. Comparison of three methods for recovery of Mycobacterium avium complex from blood specimens. J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Jun; 26(6):1225-1226. 3290248

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
008300 Blood Culture, Routine 600-7 008300 Blood Culture, Routine 600-7
Reflex Table for Blood Culture, Routine
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 997873 Result 997181 Result 1 600-7
Reflex Table for Blood Culture, Routine
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 997873 Result 997182 Result 2 600-7
Reflex Table for Blood Culture, Routine
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 997873 Result 997183 Result 3 600-7
Reflex Table for Blood Culture, Routine
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 997873 Result 997184 Result 4 600-7
Reflex Table for Blood Culture, Routine
Order Code Order Name Result Code Result Name UofM Result LOINC
Reflex 1 997873 Result 997185 Antimicrobial Susceptibility 23658-8

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