Blood Cultures Paediatric

Pathology category

Microbiology

Code

BCP

Referral code

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Test information

If blood for other tests such as blood gases or ESR is to be taken at the same venepuncture, the blood culture bottles should be inoculated first to avoid contamination. It is however preferable to take blood for culture separately. Disinfect the skin at the venepuncture site with isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry for at least 30 seconds. Disinfect the septum of the blood culture bottle with isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry.

BacT/ALERT PF Plus Paediatric bottle (yellow top).A single paediatric bottle should be used for small volumes of blood. If the paediatric bottle is unavailable, use a single aerobic bottle. If necrotising enterocolitis is suspected and sufficient blood is obtained, inoculate a paediatric and an anaerobic bottle. Any materials used in taking these samples must be discarded in an approved clinical waste or sharps container.

TIME BETWEEN SPECIMEN COLLECTION & PROCESSING: Blood cultures should be transported to the laboratory and incubated or loaded onto the automated system as soon as possible.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS TO MINIMISE DETERIORATION: Where there is a delay in transport to the laboratory and/or loading onto the automated system, blood cultures should be stored at room Temperature (21-25C) and must not be refrigerated by porters or ward staff. The incubator in the corridor next to Specimen reception is switched off and so operates at room temperature. Please note that from the 10th of October 2018, Microbiology will be using a new analyser to process all blood cultures. Please use the small PAS non-barcoded Patient ID labels, and place on all bottles submitted. Alternatively the analyser will accept hand written patient’s details in the space provided on the bottle. This also applies to paediatric blood cultures. Under no circumstances remove the Bottle barcode label as the instrument requires this to identify the sample under processing. If these instructions are not followed, then delays may occur to the sample being loaded and processed. Tests performed in a UKAS Accredited Medical Laboratory No. 8873.

Guidelines

Blood Culture Bottle Labelling

Pre-analytical

Do NOT remove barcodes from bottles or obscure with patient label – these are required for the automated analyser. Blood cultures should be transported to the laboratory for incubation immediately. DO NOT send via the air tube

Reference range

Tube type

Tube type info

Single bottle (yellow)

Special requirements

Whole blood

Minimum volume

Up to but no more than 4ml per bottle

Assay frequency

TAT Inpatient (urgent)

2 day negative. Positive cultures as flagged. All positives telephoned. Most patients will be revie

TAT Inpatient

2 day negative. Positive cultures as flagged. All positives telephoned. Most patients will be revie

TAT GP/Outpatient

2 day negative. Positive cultures as flagged. All positives telephoned. Most patients will be revie

Referral lab

Local