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Test Code BDC Blood Culture

Infectious

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Preferred Specimen: BACTEC blood culture bottles

Volume

Preferred Volume: 8-10 mL

Minimum Volume: 1-3 mL

Pediatric Volumes:

Neonates (≤30 days old or weighing <5 kg): Inoculate Peds Plus bottle (pink) only with 0.5 – 3 ml blood.

>Neonate to <2 yr: Inoculate Peds Plus bottle (pink) only with 1 – 3 ml blood.

2 yr - ≤10 yr: Inoculate Peds Plus bottle (pink) with 2-3 ml blood and Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F bottle (purple) with 3 – 8 ml blood.

11 yr or older: Inoculate Aerobic Plus bottle (gray) with 8-10 ml blood and Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F bottle (purple) with 8 – 10 ml blood.

 

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

24 hours

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 not acceptable

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Skin decontamination with Chloraprep.
 

  1. Pinch wings of the applicator to break the ampule inside. Wet sponge by repeatedly pressing and releasing sponge against venipuncture site.
  2. Scrub venipuncture site continuously for 30 seconds using a back and forth motion.
  3. Allow the site to air dry for 30 seconds. DO NOT blot or dry.
  4. To prepare the bottle, remove the plastic cap from the top of the bottles and cleanse with 70% alcohol. Remove any surplus disinfectant with sterile gauze before injection of blood into the bottle.


Specimen Transport: Immediate

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, incorrect collection container, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 

Reference Values

 

Test

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Culture

All

All

No Growth

Critical Values

Test

 Result

Culture

Growth

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

STAT Turnaround Time: not available

Routine Turnaround Time: 5 days

Testing Schedule: Monday - Sunday

Clinical Indications

  • Aid in the diagnosis of anaerobic and/or aerobic bacterial infections.

CPT Codes

87040

LOINC Codes

600-7

Methodology

Bactec FX40 Automated culture method

Synonyms/Keyword Search

CX, BLD CX, BCX, BLOOD CX, C&S, BLOOD BAC/FUNGUS, BDC, CBDC, BACTERIAL CULTURE, CULTURE, BLOOD CULTURE

Last Review Date

02/06/2026