A blood culture system is a way to test for bacteria or fungus in the blood that can cause infection.blood culture system The test is usually done when doctors suspect that you have a serious blood infection, such as septic shock or sepsis. Blood cultures can also be used to help identify the type of bacteria or fungus that is causing an infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics.
The test can be performed in a doctor’s office, hospital, laboratory, or health clinic. Blood samples are typically drawn by a nurse or technician using a needle from one or more of your arms or hands. You may feel a moderate pain when the needle is inserted. After the sample is drawn, a nurse or technician may cover the site with a bandage or gauze. Depending on your condition, the number of blood samples that are drawn may vary. In some cases, your doctor may order two blood culture tests at different times and then use the results of both to better understand the nature of your infection.
Once the laboratory has received your blood sample, it is placed in a special dish with a liquid that encourages germs to grow. The dish is then watched over a period of days or weeks to see if any germs are growing. During this time, other lab tests may be done to help identify the germs found in your blood sample, such as a Gram stain or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
If the results of the blood culture show that you have an infection, your doctor will begin treatment right away. The blood culture will help to determine the type of bacteria or fungus that are causing the infection, and the specific antibiotic that will work best against it. In some cases, the laboratory will do a follow-up test called antibiotic sensitivity testing to ensure that the drug is effective against the particular type of germs found in your blood.
A blood culture can also be used to monitor your response to treatment and to see when the infection is no longer present in your body. If your symptoms improve, your doctor will likely order another blood culture to make sure that the infection is truly gone. This will allow your doctor to choose the most appropriate type of medication for you.