Test ID: BBLD
Bacterial Culture, Blood
NY State Approved 
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Automated or Manual Detection of Positive Blood Cultures with Conventional Identification Methods
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
General Bacteria Culture, Blood
50006-BBLD
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
This test is available by special request only - pre-approval by testing lab is required.
Incubate blood bottles at 35 degrees C for 24 hours before sending.
Include a completed microbiology request form.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Blood Culture | Ambient | |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Bacteremia results when bacteria multiply at a rate that exceeds removal by phagocytes. The clinical pattern of bacteremia may be transient, intermittent, or continuous. Transient bacteremia often occurs after manipulative procedures (dental procedures, cystoscopy) or surgery in contaminated areas of the body. Undrained abscesses (intraabdominal, pelvic, hepatic) may result in intermittent bacteremia. A hallmark feature of subacute bacterial endocarditis is a continuous bacteremia.
The sources of bacteremia are the genitourinary tract (25%), the respiratory tract (20%), abscesses (10%), surgical wounds (5%), the biliary tract (5%), other known sites (10%), and unknown sites (25%).
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.
No growth
Identification of all organisms
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
As a general guidelines, two sets of cultures should be collected per febrile episode in adult patients, no more than four blood culture sets should be collected in a 24-hour period, and blood cultures should be collected prior to administration of antibiotics.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Sixth edition. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 2005, pp 906-926
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
The skin surface should be decontaminated with tincture of iodine prior to venipuncture to reduce the chances of introducing contaminating organisms from the skin. Blood is collected and divided among aerobic and anaerobic bottles. The bottles are incubated at 35 degrees C for 5 days. Positive bottles are gram stained, subcultured and microorganisms recovered are identified by conventional techniques.(Baron EJ, Weinstein MP, Dunne WM Jr, et al: Blood cultures IV. In Cumitech 1C. ASM Press, 2005)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Daily; Continuously
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
87040
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| BBLD | Bacterial Culture, Blood | In Process |
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