Blood Culture

Test Code

BLD

CPT Codes
87040

Preferred Specimen

Blood

Minimum Volume

See Instructions

Instructions

Adults-Draw one Aerobe PLUS and one Anaerobe plus bottle per set; 8-10 mls per bottle. Children- Draw one PEDS PLUS bottle; 3 mls per bottle. Use aseptic technique to avoid skin bacteria contamination. Multiple blood culture collections should have different collections times or sites. Please note if HACEK organisms are suspected. Cultures will be incubated for 21 days. Blood to be cultured for fungi, Brucella, Francisella and Mycobacteria should be collected in a Myco/F Lytic Bactec Bottle. Myco/F Lytic Bactec Bottle are supplied by MCL.

Transport Container

AERO/1 ANAE/1 or PEDS/1

Transport Temperature

Specimen Stability

RT for 24 hrs

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Leaking; Improperly Labelled; Improper storage/transport

Methodology
Continuously monitored blood culture system with microscopic and biochemical identification techniques

Setup Schedule

Daily upon receipt

Report Available

5 days

Reference Range

No Growth 5 Days

Clinical Significance

Bacterial sepsis constitutes one of the most serious infecious diseases. The detection of microorganisms in a patients blood has importance in the diagnosis and prognosis of endocarditis, septicemia, or chronic bacteremia.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.