Two or three separate orders, each containing one set of bottles and drawn from different sites, is recommended to assist in detection of bacteremia and determination of clinical significance. Timing of cultures is not critical, but preferably blood should be drawn before administration of antimicrobials. All blood cultures should be drawn by venipuncture unless the physician specifically requests drawing from a indwelling line.
Patient Preparation
For best practice, refer to System Policy 5837 for adult blood culture collection or System Policy 7864 for pediatric blood collection. Both are available on Nsite.
EPIC code
LAB462
Collect
For adult patients, collect 8-10 ml blood in the aerobic bottle (BLUE) and 8-10 ml blood in the anaerobic bottle (PURPLE).
Pediatric Collection
Recommend 8-10 ml blood per bottle for an adult-sized patient, at least 3 ml blood per bottle for most pediatric patients, and 0.1 ml per 100g of body weight for neonates <= 1kg.
Specimen Volume
8-10ML IN EACH BOTTLE
Storage/Transport Temperature
AMBIENT (Bottles must be received in Microbiology within 12 hours of collection)
Unacceptable Conditions
-REFRIGERATED
-FROZEN
Performed
Sun-Sat
Critical Values
Any growth
Lab Dept
CPA MICRO
Reference Interval
No growth
Reported
Final negative results at 5 days.
Positive results variable.
Methodology
Continuously monitored incubation. Positive bottles tested by Verigene microarray analysis, microbial identification, and susceptibility testing as appropriate.
Last Updated
4-30-2025
CPT Codes
87040
Synonyms
LAB462
BLOOD CLUTURE
Lab Dept
CPA MICRO
Lab Test Information
Ordering Recommendations
Two or three separate orders, each containing one set of bottles and drawn from different sites, is recommended to assist in detection of bacteremia and determination of clinical significance. Timing of cultures is not critical, but preferably blood should be drawn before administration of antimicrobials. All blood cultures should be drawn by venipuncture unless the physician specifically requests drawing from a indwelling line.
Patient Preparation
For best practice, refer to System Policy 5837 for adult blood culture collection or System Policy 7864 for pediatric blood collection. Both are available on Nsite.
EPIC code
LAB462
Collect
For adult patients, collect 8-10 ml blood in the aerobic bottle (BLUE) and 8-10 ml blood in the anaerobic bottle (PURPLE).
Pediatric Collection
Recommend 8-10 ml blood per bottle for an adult-sized patient, at least 3 ml blood per bottle for most pediatric patients, and 0.1 ml per 100g of body weight for neonates <= 1kg.
Specimen Volume
8-10ML IN EACH BOTTLE
Storage/Transport Temperature
AMBIENT (Bottles must be received in Microbiology within 12 hours of collection)
Unacceptable Conditions
-REFRIGERATED
-FROZEN
Performed
Sun-Sat
Critical Values
Any growth
Lab Dept
CPA MICRO
Reference Interval
No growth
Reported
Final negative results at 5 days.
Positive results variable.
Methodology
Continuously monitored incubation. Positive bottles tested by Verigene microarray analysis, microbial identification, and susceptibility testing as appropriate.
