Bacteriabldaerobecult
A blood culture test detects bacteria in your blood to help diagnose infections.
{"A blood culture test checks if bacteria are present in your blood","It helps doctors diagnose serious infections like sepsis","The test uses a blood sample placed in special containers to grow bacteria","Results typically take 1-3 days","Positive results help doctors choose the right antibiotic treatment"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 17928-3
- Short code
- BLDCUL
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Bld Aerobe Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- whole-blood
- Container
- Aerobic blood culture bottle (e.g., BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F, BacT/ALERT FA Plus). Typically paired with an anaerobic blood culture bottle for each set. Each bottle should be inoculated with 8-10 mL of blood for adults.
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- aerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87040
- SNOMED
- 104235004
- Specimen volume
- Adults: 8-10 mL per blood culture bottle (one aerobic and one anaerobic bottle per set, 20-30 mL total per set). Pediatric patients: 1-3 mL per bottle based on weight (younger children typically use a single aerobic bottle). Recommended 2-3 sets per septic episode drawn from separate venipuncture sites.
- Stability
- Blood culture bottles should be incubated immediately or transported to the laboratory as soon as possible. If transport is delayed, bottles can be held at room temperature (20-25°C) for no more than 2-4 hours prior to loading into the blood culture instrument. Do not refrigerate blood culture bottles. Once positive, subcultured isolates are stable for additional identification and susceptibility testing per laboratory protocol.
- Hemolysis max
- 0
- Lipemia max
- 0
- Icterus max
- 0
- TAT
- 24–120 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test?
A blood culture test is a laboratory test that checks for bacteria or fungi in your blood. When bacteria enter your bloodstream, it can cause serious infections. This test helps doctors find out if you have a bloodstream infection, which is important for proper treatment.
How is the test performed?
A healthcare professional will clean your skin with an antiseptic to prevent contamination. Then, they will draw blood from a vein, usually in your arm. The blood sample is placed in special bottles containing nutrients that help bacteria grow. These bottles are kept at body temperature and monitored for several days to see if bacteria multiply.
What happens during the test?
The test is simple and similar to a regular blood draw. You may feel a brief sting when the needle is inserted. Multiple blood samples are often taken from different veins to increase the chance of detecting an infection. The samples are then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
How long does it take to get results?
Initial results may be available within 1-3 days. However, some bacteria grow slowly, so complete results can take up to 5-7 days. If bacteria are found, additional tests identify the specific type and determine which antibiotics will work best.
Reference range
No growth of aerobic bacteria after 5 days of incubation (standard protocol). Reportable results include organism identification to genus and species level when isolated, with colony morphology and Gram stain characteristics. Results reported as 'No growth' or with identified organism(s) such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.N/A
Strict aseptic technique is mandatory during blood collection to prevent contamination. Skin preparation should be performed with 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine, allowing adequate drying time (30-60 seconds for chlorhexidine, 1-2 minutes for povidone-iodine). Blood should be drawn prior to administration of antibiotics whenever possible, as prior antimicrobial therapy may reduce yield. Multiple sets from different venipuncture sites increase sensitivity. No fasting required. Inform patient of the procedure and obtain consent if required by institution.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
◆Associated findings1
Frequently asked questions
Does a blood culture test hurt?
Why do I need multiple blood samples?
What does a positive result mean?
What does a negative result mean?
Do I need to fast before this test?
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy