Blood Culture and Sensitivity (Line Draw)

General Information

Lab Name

Blood C/S (Line)

Lab Code

BLDLC

Epic Ordering

Blood Culture, Line Draw

Description

Two sets of blood cultures are recommended; maximum 3 sets per 24 hours. (one set includes 1 aerobic plus 1 anaerobic bottle)

BacT/Alert blood culture bottle collection, labeling and transport information

Synonyms

Components

Code	Name
SDES	Specimen Description
SREQ	Special Requests
CULT	Culture
RPT	Report Status

Interpretation

Reference Range

See individual components

Guidelines

Antibiograms and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Information

Ordering & Collection

Specimen Type: Blood from Line draw
Collection: Disinfect draw site AND BOTTLE TOPS. Allow to dry. Collect 8-10 mL blood in 1 FA Plus aerobic blood culture bottle and 8-10 mL in 1 FN Plus anaerobic blood culture bottle.

UW-Montlake: Also acceptable: approximately 8 mL blood in each of 2 yellow top (SPS) tubes [UW-MT PMM order #: 100409, NOT an ACD tube] DO NOT send blood in yellow top SPS tubes if the suspected organism is Neisseria species, Streptobacillus moniliformis, Peptostreptococcus species, or Gardnerella vaginalis because SPS may inhibit the recovery of these organisms.

BacT/Alert blood culture bottle collection, labeling and transport information
Handling Instructions: Do NOT overfill or underfill. Do not place patient label over the barcode label. Note: Whenever possible, inoculate the maximum volume for optimal sensitivity of culture. Refer to "Nursing Services Policy and Procedures for Nursing Care: Obtaining Blood Culture" procedure (UW-MT).

Transport: Transport at room temperature to the laboratory ideally within 30 minutes after collection, or within 12 hours if transporting from an outside location. Specimens received in blood culture bottles or yellow top SPS tubes >12 hours after collection will be rejected. Viability of organisms is significantly reduced after 12 hours.

Transport in the pneumatic tube system: Place plastic blood culture bottles in a large biohazard specimen bag with the request slip. Then place the bagged bottles between TWO sections of foam padding inserts before sending the specimens in the pneumatic tube system.
Quantity: requested: 8-10 mL in each aerobic/anaerobic blood culture bottle. Use fill lines on the side of the bottle to gauge the correct blood volume.
minimum: 0.5 mL in one aerobic blood culture bottle or 0.5 mL in each aerobic/anaerobic blood culture bottle. If less than 1 mL collected, place the entire amount in an aerobic bottle only.

Processing

Processing: At SDES prompt, enter BLUD, phlebotomy site and bottle description, e.g. BLUD-ALINE-AABT. If yellow top SPS tubes are received, inoculate into blood culture bottles. Bottles should be placed in blood culture instrument ASAP.

Performance

LIS Dept Code

Microbiology (MC)

Performing Location(s)

HMC	Microbiology 206-744-5858 325 9th Ave, Rm # GWH-47, Seattle, WA 98104-2420
UW-NW	Main Lab 206-668-1344 UW Medical Center – Northwest 1550 N 115th Street, A200 Seattle, WA 98133
UW-MT	Microbiology 206-520-4600 Clinical Lab, Room # NW177, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific street, Seattle, WA 98195

Other Locations/Notes

UW-NW: Positive blood culture workup and susceptibility testing is performed at UW-MT. Please contact the UW Microbiology lab at 206-598-6147 with questions regarding positive culture results.

Frequency

Processed upon receipt

Available STAT?

Billing & Coding

CPT codes: 87040
LOINC: 616-3