Blood Culture Test

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KEY POINTS

• A blood culture checks for bacterial or fungal infection of the blood. Knowing what kind of bacteria or fungus is causing the infection can help your child’s provider know what medicine will provide the best treatment.
• A small amount of blood is taken from a vein in your child’s arm with a needle. The blood is collected in tubes and sent to a lab.
• Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about what the test results mean and ask any questions you have.

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What is a blood culture test?

A blood culture is a test that checks for bacterial or fungal infection of the blood.

Why is it done?

An infection in the blood can be serious. This test can help your child’s healthcare provider know if your child’s blood is infected and identify the type of bacteria or fungus causing the infection. Knowing what kind of bacteria or fungus is causing the infection can help your provider know what medicine will provide the best treatment.

Your provider may do this test if your child has a fever with no clear cause or your child is very sick.

How do I prepare my child for this test?

Usually no preparation is needed for this test, other than helping prepare your child for getting poked with a needle.

Tell your child's healthcare provider about all the medicines and supplements your child takes, especially antibiotic medicine. Ask your provider before stopping any of your child’s regular medicines.

How is the test done?

Having this test will take just a few minutes. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein in your child’s arm with a needle. Blood may be taken from more than 1 site. The blood is collected in tubes and sent to a lab, where it is placed in a container with nutrient substances to see if any germs grow.

Most bacteria grow in a culture within 24 to 48 hours. Fungus may take as long as 30 days to show up.

Ask your child’s healthcare provider how and when you will get your child’s test results.

What does the test result mean?

A test is negative if it does not find any bacteria or fungus in the blood sample. If your child’s test is negative, your child may be tested again to check the result.

A blood culture test is positive if bacteria or fungus grows in the culture. If the test is positive, different medicines may be tested in the lab to see which medicine will best treat the infection.

What if my child’s test result is not normal?

Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your child’s medical history, physical exam, and current health. Sometimes a test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your healthcare provider about your child’s result and ask questions such as:

• If your child needs more tests
• What kind of treatment your child might need
• What lifestyle, diet, or other changes your child might need to make