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Interpretive Handbook

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Test 50022:
Fungal Culture, Blood

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Due to the high mortality rate from fungemia, the expeditious detection and identification of fungi from the patient's blood can have great diagnostic prognostic importance. Risk factors for fungemia include, but are not limited to, extremes of age, immunosuppression, and those individuals with burns or indwelling intravascular devices.

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Blood cultures are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of the etiologic agents of fungemia.

 

Fungal blood cultures should be requested on a select patient population that presents with signs and symptoms of sepsis, especially fever of unknown origin.

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Positive cultures are usually an indication of infection and are reported as soon as detected. Correlation of culture results and the clinical situation is required for optimal patient management. A final negative report is issued after 30 days of incubation.

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Negative

If positive, notification is made as soon as the positive culture is detected or identified.

Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Reimer LG, Wilson ML, Weinstein MP: Update on Detection of Bacteremia and Fungemia. Clin Microbiol Rev 1997;10:444-465

2. Procop GW, Cockerill FR III, Vetter EA, et al: Performance of five agar media for recovery of fungi from isolator blood cultures. J Clin Micro 2000;38(10):3827-3829