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Blood Culture, Aerobic and Anaerobic  

 
IMPORTANT! Pre-approval needed from state or local health department. Local or State Health Department. Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.

NPHL has moved to an electronic ordering system, NUlirt, and it is now the preferred method to order all tests. Once ordered, print a "batch list" (see NUlirt Guide).

Forms Required - Nulirt batch list or NPHL Test Request Form (completed in entirety) must accompany the specimen to include the following information: symptoms and date of onset, pregnancy status, travel and vaccine history. Testing will not be performed without all required information.

Please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459 for further clarification.

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Test: Blood Culture, Aerobic and Anaerobic.
Order in NUlirt or complete NPHL Test Order Form  
Synonym: Blood Culture,blood bottles  
Method: Continuous monitoring blood culture system/identificatio  
Availability: Daily; preliminary report at 24 day and final report at 5 days for negatives.
All positive blood cultures are reported as soon as detected.  
Specimen: Blood.Draw aseptically per Blood Culture Collection procedure. Wipe off top of Blood culture bottles with alcohol wipe and let dry.  
Collection Device: Blood. Draw aseptically per Blood Culture Collection procedure. Wipe off top of Blood culture bottles with alcohol wipe and let dry. Collect blood into Bactec Plus Aerobic /F bottle and Bactec Lytic/Anaerobic F bottle.
Specimen Labeling: Test subject to CLIA regulations and required 2 patient identifiers on specimen container and requisition forms  
Volume: 3.0-10.0 mL of blood into each Bactec aerobic bottle and Bactec anaerobic bottle. Optimum blood specimen is 20 mL. Follow these guidelines if less blood obtained, split the amount of blood drawn between bottles, 3.0 mL required for each bottle. For Pediatric patients, 1.0-3.0 mL of blood injected into Bactec Pediatric aerobic culture bottle is sufficient. Pediatric blood culture bottles are available upon request and ordered as a BLDA  
Storage/Transport:

Prior to and during shipment:  Ambient 15-25°C
Shipping instructions, including specimen-handling requirements during transport:  Place in biohazard bag with absorbent material. Mark out rigid box as UN3373 Category B, Biological Substance. Transport by NPHL ground courier. If courier not available, ship by FedEx, UPS or USPS (1st Class, Priority or Express Mail). Follow appropriate DOT/IATA Regulation Guidelines.  For assistance, call NPHL State Training Coordinator at (402) 559-3590.  
See instructions and shipping address: http://nphl.org

 
Unacceptable: Improperly collected or stored culture bottles. Refrigerated bottles  
Specimen Stability: Stable at ambient temperature 20-25° C  
Reference Interval: No growth at 5 days  
Reportable Disease: Presumptive positive results are reported to local or state health department. Refer to Nebraska DHHS Title 173, Communicable Diseases.  
Comments: Pre-approval needed from state or local health department.  Send approval to NPHL@unmc.edu or call (402) 559-9444.
State source of blood if other than peripheral on test request form.  Example: Line draw.  No more than 3 blood culture sets should be drawn with 24 hour period, unless from multiple lines. Document on test request form if patient is suspected of having endocarditis or usual organism such as Brucella, Francisella or other BT agent. Gram stain performed on positives. Initial positive cultures will be reflexed by the lab to the Direct Blood Pathogen panel for a rapid, PCR-based, identification of the   
Revised: 3/21/2021 
If you have questions about proper specimen collection, please call NPHL Client Services at (402) 559-2440 or toll free at (800) 334-0459.

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