Comprehensive Patient Guide to Understanding Your Medical Laboratory Test and What the Results Mean for Your Care
This test detects and identifies bacteria in dialysis fluid to diagnose infections related to dialysis treatment.
{"The test cultures dialysis fluid to find harmful bacteria","It helps diagnose peritonitis and dialysis access infections","Results guide antibiotic treatment selection","Sample is collected from dialysis fluid or catheter","Early detection prevents serious complications"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 9822-8
- Short code
- DIALCX
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Dial fld Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Sterile, leak-proof, screw-cap container (40-50 mL) or blood culture bottles for dialysate fluid collection. Bactec or BacT/Alert blood culture bottles may be used for automated continuous-monitoring systems.
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Method
- culture
- CPT
- 87070
- SNOMED
- 413980008
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 50 mL of peritoneal dialysis effluent (concentrated by centrifugation when needed) or 10 mL for hemodialysis fluid. When using blood culture bottles, inoculate 5-10 mL per bottle (aerobic and anaerobic).
- Stability
- Room temperature: deliver to laboratory within 2 hours of collection. If delay is anticipated, refrigerate at 2-8°C and process within 24 hours. Do not freeze. For blood culture bottles, maintain at room temperature and load into incubator as soon as possible.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–120 hours
- Order
- routine
What is this test and how does it help your doctor learn more about your health condition?
The Dialysis Fluid Culture test analyzes a sample of your dialysis fluid to detect and identify any bacteria present. This is a crucial test for patients receiving dialysis treatment, as it helps healthcare providers identify infections that can occur during dialysis procedures. The test uses culture methods to grow and identify bacteria, determining exactly what type of microorganism is causing any infection.
Why is this test performed and what specific health concerns is your provider looking to evaluate?
This test is performed when a patient on dialysis shows signs of infection, such as fever, abdominal pain (for peritoneal dialysis), or redness and swelling at the access site. It is essential for diagnosing peritonitis, which is an infection of the abdominal lining common in peritoneal dialysis patients, as well as catheter-related bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients. Early detection of bacteria allows doctors to start the right antibiotics quickly.
How is the sample collected and what should you expect during the brief procedure at the clinic?
For peritoneal dialysis patients, a sample of the used dialysis fluid (dialysate) is collected from the drain bag. For hemodialysis patients, a sample may be taken from the dialysis circuit or from the catheter hub. The sample is then sent to a laboratory where it is placed in special culture media to allow any bacteria to grow. This process typically takes 24-72 hours to get preliminary results, though complete identification may take longer.
What do the results mean and how will your healthcare team explain any abnormal findings to you?
A negative result means no bacteria were grown from the sample, which suggests the infection may be caused by something else. A positive result identifies the specific type of bacteria causing the infection, which helps doctors choose the most effective antibiotic treatment. Common bacteria found in dialysis fluid infections include Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and various gram-negative bacteria. The sensitivity testing performed alongside culture helps determine which antibiotics will work best.
Reference range
No growth of pathogenic bacteria. Reportable organisms include coagulase-negative staphylococci, Corynebacterium species, and Propionibacterium species only when isolated from multiple cultures or in pure culture.N/A
Peritoneal dialysis fluid should be collected using strict aseptic technique. Patients should perform hand hygiene and use sterile technique when obtaining dialysate samples. The first cloudy bag or exchange showing symptoms of peritonitis should be submitted for analysis. For hemodialysis fluid, collect from the dialysate port using sterile syringes.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
This test is critically important for managing dialysis-related infections, which are among the most common complications in dialysis patients. Positive results confirm the diagnosis of peritonitis or catheter-related infections, enabling targeted antimicrobial therapy. The identification of specific bacteria helps prevent treatment failures and reduces the development of antibiotic resistance. Regular monitoring through this test can also help identify recurring infections that may indicate problems with dialysis access sites or technique.
Frequently asked questions
Does this test hurt?
How long does it take to get results?
What happens if the test is positive?
Can I prevent dialysis fluid infections?
Sources
- 1
- 2CDC - Dialysis SafetySource
- 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