Blood Culture and Sensitivity Test

Blood Culture Test: quick answers

Blood Culture Test price

₹899

Done for

High fever with chills, especially if the person looks very unwell; Suspected sepsis, or a fall in blood pressure with infection; Fever lasting more than a week with no clear cause, including suspected typhoid

Fasting

Not required

Report

2–5 days

What is the Blood Culture Test?

A blood culture test checks whether bacteria or yeast are growing in the blood, which is a serious infection called bacteraemia or sepsis. A blood sample is placed in a nutrient bottle and watched for growth. If something grows, the germ is identified and tested against antibiotics, which is the sensitivity part.

What your Blood Culture Test result means

No growth

No bacteria or yeast grew in the incubation period. Antibiotics taken before the sample can lead to no growth even when an infection is present, so tell the doctor and the laboratory about any you have taken.

Growth of an organism with sensitivity

A bloodstream infection is likely. The report names the germ and lists the antibiotics that are sensitive or resistant. A doctor uses it to narrow treatment, and early reports may only say that something is growing while identification is awaited.

Growth of a skin organism in one bottle

Often contamination from the skin at the time of collection. The doctor may repeat the test to be sure.

One result is not a diagnosis. A doctor reads it with your symptoms, history, medicines and other tests.

Why is the Blood Culture Test done?

• High fever with chills, especially if the person looks very unwell
• Suspected sepsis, or a fall in blood pressure with infection
• Fever lasting more than a week with no clear cause, including suspected typhoid
• Fever in a newborn, a person on chemotherapy or someone with a heart valve problem
• Before antibiotics are started or changed in a hospital stay

What does the Blood Culture and Sensitivity Test measure?

1 parameter. Expand a group to see the measurements, units and available method details.

The reference interval printed on your actual laboratory report governs interpretation. Intervals can vary by laboratory, method, age, sex and pregnancy. Methods can also vary by processing laboratory.

Blood Culture Test: sample & preparation

Sample: Blood. Fasting: Not required.

• Tell the phlebotomist if you are already taking antibiotics, as this can affect the result. Two sets of blood samples are usually collected from different sites, ideally before starting or changing antibiotics.

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