Sample Requirements

• Aerobic (yellow capped) bottles are used for culture of Aerobic bacteria. Order Blood Culture, Aerobic.
• Anaerobic (purple capped) bottles are used for culture of Anaerobic bacteria. Order Blood Culture, Anaerobic.
• To culture for both yeast and aerobic bacteria, order Blood Culture, Aerobic + Yeast, inoculate a single aerobic (yellow capped) bottle. It is not necessary to inoculate two separate bottles. 
• The Aerobic Blood Culture (yellow capped) bottles are optimal for yeast, but sub-optimal for filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus, Coccidiodes, Fusarium, Histoplasma, and Blastomyces. To culture for these fungi, see Fungal Culture, Blood.
• For culture of Acid Fast Bacteria from blood, refer to AFB Culture, Blood.
• The most important factor in detection of blood stream infections is adequate blood volume for culture. If collecting blood for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures: <20 kg patient, divide the blood sample equally between the 2 bottles. For >20 kg patient divide sample as indicated in the chart. For <1 mL collection, the entire blood volume should be inoculated into one aerobic bottle.
• If aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures are ordered, transfer blood into the aerobic bottle first.
• Record the blood volume as optimal or sub-optimal (volume is less than the chart recommendation) on the specimen requisition in designated area.
• It is recommended to always order and collect both an Aerobic and Anaerobic bottle. Using a blood culture specific sterile transfer device, asceptically inject blood into the Aerobic bottle first followed by the Anaerobic bottle.
• Label the bottle with the site of collection.  
• If Endocarditis is suspected, it is recommended to order and draw additional blood bottles (3-4 bottles total) from each site. This will aid in detection of very low numbers of organisms circulating in the blood stream.
• Sterile body fluids other than blood should not be inoculated into blood culture bottles. Send sample to Microbiology for set up on agar media.
• Standard incubation time for all blood culture bottles is 5 days.  If additional incubation time is needed, please notify the Microbiology Department.
• Notify the Microbiology Department if there is suspicion of infection of a specific organism.  Certain organisms may require extended incubation times and/or specific handling procedures. 

Specimen: Blood

Container: Blood Culture Bottle

Preferred Vol: See Chart

Minimum Vol: See Chart