Blood Culture & Sensitivity

Why Would I Need One?

If your doctor orders this test, it’s because they think you might have a systemic infection and they want to check for certain kinds of germs in your blood. It can help them come up with the best treatment for you.

Your doctor might order the test if you have symptoms that may include:

• Fever or chills
• Fatigue
• Peeing less often than normal
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Faster heart rate or breathing

If your infection is more severe, you might have:

• Inflammation in different areas of your body
• Small blood clots forming in your small blood vessels
• A serious drop in your blood pressure
• Organ failure

What Happens During the Test?

A nurse or a phlebotomist (a medical technician who takes blood) will clean your skin and insert a thin needle into your vein to draw your blood. The process will be repeated using another vein to get the most accurate results.

In a lab, your blood samples will get mixed with a special material called a culture. It helps bacteria or yeast grow if they are already in your blood.

What Do the Results Mean?

Your doctor may talk about “positive” and “negative” results. If you get a “positive” result on your blood culture test, it usually means there are bacteria or yeast in your blood. “Negative” means there’s no sign of them.

If two or more of your blood cultures come back positive for the same type of bacteria or fungi, it’s likely that that’s the type of bacteria or yeast that’s causing your infection. An infection in your blood is serious. You’ll need immediate treatment, probably in a hospital.