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Blood C/S - BacT/Alert (with bottle)

Bacterial/ Viral
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Report in 120Hrs

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At Home

nofastingrequire

No Fasting Required

Details

This test checks for the presence of bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream using the BacT/ALERT automated blood culture systemicion.

₹742₹1,045

29% OFF

Blood C/S - BacT/Alert (with bottle)

  • Why is it done?
    • Detects bacterial or fungal infections in the bloodstream (bacteremia or fungemia) using the BacT/Alert automated culture system
    • Diagnoses sepsis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and other systemic infections
    • Ordered when patients present with fever of unknown origin, chills, or symptoms suggestive of infection
    • Typically performed during acute febrile illness or when sepsis is clinically suspected
    • Essential for patients with immunosuppression, invasive procedures, or central venous catheters
    • Used to monitor treatment response in confirmed bloodstream infections
  • Normal Range
    • Result: NEGATIVE/NO GROWTH
    • Units: Qualitative (Colony Forming Units per mL - CFU/mL not typically reported unless quantified)
    • Normal interpretation: Absence of bacterial or fungal growth indicates no bloodstream infection; sterile blood culture
    • Positive culture: Growth detected indicates presence of microorganisms in blood (clinically significant if consistent with clinical picture)
    • Contamination: Single positive result (especially from skin flora) may indicate contamination rather than true infection
    • Culture typically incubated for 5 days minimum; automated system monitors for growth continuously
  • Interpretation
    • Negative/No Growth (Normal): Indicates no detectable bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream; rules out bacteremia/fungemia; supports non-infectious etiology of symptoms
    • Positive (Abnormal): Indicates microbial growth; confirms bloodstream infection; clinical significance depends on type of organism and clinical context
    • Time to Positivity: Earlier detection (within 24 hours) suggests significant bacteremia; delayed positivity may indicate lower organism burden or fastidious organisms
    • Organism Identification: Once positive, Gram stain and culture characteristics determine organism type; antibiotic susceptibility testing performed for guidance on therapy
    • Single vs. Multiple Positive Cultures: Multiple positive cultures with same organism confirm true infection; single positive of normal skin flora may indicate contamination (though clinical context is critical)
    • Factors Affecting Results: - Timing of collection (before antibiotics preferred) - Adequate blood volume in bottle - Proper skin antisepsis to reduce contamination - Immediate transport to laboratory - Patient antibiotic therapy (may inhibit growth) - Immunosuppression status - Type of infection (acute vs. chronic)
  • Associated Organs
    • Primary Systems Involved: - Cardiovascular system (sepsis, endocarditis) - Immune system (systemic infection response) - Multiple organ systems (septic shock affects all organs)
    • Conditions Associated with Abnormal Results: - Sepsis and septic shock - Infective endocarditis (bacterial vegetation on heart valves) - Osteomyelitis (bone infection with hematogenous spread) - Meningitis (particularly meningococcemia) - Pneumonia with bacteremia - Urinary tract infections with urosepsis - Intra-abdominal infections (peritonitis, appendicitis) - Surgical site infections - Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) - Acute leukemia and other malignancies
    • Diseases Diagnosed/Monitored: - Systemic bacteremia - Fungal infections (candidiasis, aspergillosis) - Mycobacterial infections - Spirochete infections (Borrelia, Treponema)
    • Potential Complications of Positive Results: - Organ dysfunction (renal, hepatic, cardiac) - Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - Multi-organ failure - Septic shock with hypotension and death if untreated - Formation of metastatic infections in other tissues
  • Follow-up Tests
    • If Culture Positive: - Gram stain and microscopy of growth - Organism identification (MALDI-TOF, 16S rRNA sequencing) - Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) - Repeat blood cultures to document clearance after initiating therapy - Imaging studies (echocardiography for endocarditis, CT/MRI for source identification)
    • Supportive Tests: - Complete blood count (CBC) with differential - Procalcitonin or C-reactive protein (CRP) - Lactate level (marker of tissue perfusion/sepsis severity) - Coagulation studies (PT/INR, PTT, platelet count) - Liver and renal function tests - Blood glucose monitoring
    • Diagnostic Imaging: - Transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiogram (TTE/TEE) for endocarditis evaluation - CT abdomen/pelvis to identify primary infection source - Chest X-ray for pneumonia or septic emboli - Bone scan or MRI for osteomyelitis
    • Monitoring Frequency: - Repeat blood cultures 24-48 hours after initiating therapy to document sterilization - Serial repeat cultures in cases of persistent/relapsing infection - Weekly monitoring for chronic infections or immunocompromised patients
    • If Culture Negative with High Clinical Suspicion: - Fungal blood cultures - Mycobacterial cultures - Fastidious organism special media - Serological testing - Molecular/PCR testing for specific pathogens
  • Fasting Required?
    • Fasting: NO - Fasting is NOT required for blood culture
    • Patient Preparation: - Collection can be performed at any time of day regardless of meal status - No specific fasting period required - Patient should be upright or sitting for blood draw
    • Important Collection Requirements: - Strict aseptic technique essential to prevent contamination - Skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine, iodine, or 70% alcohol for 30-60 seconds - Allow skin to dry completely before puncture - Collect 10-40 mL per bottle set (typically 2 sets for optimal sensitivity) - Fill aerobic bottle first, then anaerobic bottle - Perform collection before initiating antibiotics if possible - Label with patient identification, collection time, and collection site - Transport to laboratory immediately without delay
    • Medications: - Do NOT discontinue regular medications - Ideally collect before starting antibiotics, but do not delay therapy - If already on antibiotics, inform laboratory (may affect culture results) - No special medication restrictions required
    • Special Considerations: - Multiple blood culture sets increase sensitivity (recommended standard) - Peripheral venipuncture preferred over central line when possible - If drawing from central line, cleanse port with alcohol/iodine - Notify laboratory if patient is on antimicrobial therapy - No time restrictions; can be collected day or night as clinically indicated

How our test process works!

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