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HelpTest Code LAB6029 Culture, Bacterial, Blood
Additional Codes
| Test Name in EPIC | EPIC Test Code | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
| CULTURE, BLOOD BACTERIAL | LAB6029 | Blood Cx |
Useful For/Utility
Diagnosis and treatment of the etiologic agents of bacteremia. Select patient population that presents with signs and symptoms of sepsis, especially fever of unknown origin.
Clinical Information
Identification and susceptibilities will be performed on all microbiology isolates considered by the laboratory to be significant.
Specimen Requirements
Whenever possible, culture specimens should be obtained before antibiotics or antimicrobial agents have been administered.
Specimen must remain at ambient temperature and arrive within 48 hours.
Specimen Type: Whole blood
Container/Tube: Blood culture bottle
Specimen Volume: 3-10 mL of blood per BACTEC Plus (1 blue-top [aerobe] and 1 gold-top or purple-top [anaerobe]) culture bottle.
Collection Instructions:
1. One anaerobe bottle is not acceptable.
2. If patient is difficult to draw or a small child, 3 mL of blood in a blue-top (aerobe) bottle or 1 to 3 mL of blood in a pink-top (pediatric) bottle is acceptable.
Additional Information:
1. No more than 3 sets of blood cultures in a 24-hour period will be accepted.
2. Indicate if subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) is suspected (including Brucella).
3. Culture will be held for 21 days.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Ambient ≤48 hours/Refrigerate NO/Frozen NO
Weekends/Holidays: Call for a special courier for blood cultures that miss the sites last pickup to Microbiology.
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Performing Laboratory
Microbiology -
Central Region: St. Joseph's Medical Center Lab
East Region: SMDC Clinical Lab, Virginia Hospital Lab
West Region: Fargo Hospital Lab, Fosston Hospital Lab, St. Mary's - Detroit Lakes Hospital Lab
Test Classification and CPT Coding
87040
Additional CPT codes will be billed when appropriate.
Reference Values
Negative: preliminary report at 48 hours, final report at 5 days
Positive:
Inpatient: Results are called to nursing staff, that in turn notify the patient’s physician.
Ambulatory: Results are called to patient’s physician or physician on-call.