Blood Cultures

Re: Blood Cultures

StephSVN — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:38:02 GMT

Interesting info - always love to get a definitve answer. I'm guessing this is a fairly ill animal - hope its doing ok?

Re: Blood Cultures

Felicity Caldwell — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:43:26 GMT

Re: Blood Cultures

Cat Woman — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:53:17 GMT

Got the protocol from the lab today. Two samples of 5-10ml blood (collected as mentioned above) approx 60 minutes apart. Blood into the pot of growth medium & swirl gently. Easy when you know how!

Re: Blood Cultures

Steph Worsley — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:01:06 GMT

we usually use minimum 10 mls blood collected aseptically as described above, needles changed etc.

3 samples usually collected within 24 hours and occasionally different veins used (especially if a central line is being used for one sample, to ensure that it isnt catheter infection)

Re: Blood Cultures

Kerry Spain — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:32:49 GMT

Dredging info from the depths of my grey matter I recall...

Bacteraemia and septicaemia cam be confirmed by culture of aseptically collected blood. It is recommended that 5-10mls of blood is collected, two or three times over a period of 24 hours. Blood culture bottles are then incubated and examined for bacterial growth.

... and all that depends upon what the lab have sent you in a way of enriched culture media

Re: Blood Cultures

Cat Woman — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:52:02 GMT

Thanks guys. Will need everything in more detail though I think - for instance, how much blood? Have heard something about sampling 3 times in a 24hr period? Will most certainly contact the lab tomorrow for more info - how dare they be closed on a BH!

Re: Blood Cultures

Nicola Smith — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:59:04 GMT

Hi, seen it done a few times - it was special stuff to put it into, like an agar type substance. I do remember the agair stuff didnt keep for long though, but that may differ with whats used. Sterile sampling technique as described above. We had a couple of positives - I remember one where the bacteria attacked the cats valve in its heart so was left with permanenet damage, another was a lab but cant remember details on that one.

Re: Blood Cultures

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:47:20 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Flick Tett RVN, MBVNA"]

Hiya - we have culture bottles (they are like injection bottles with a culture fluids in it - sterile) and we get them through our lab.

We use them for sending things like synovial fluid off for culture - however I have to say I have not seen them used for blood and I'm not too sure if they are suitable for blood!?! Again, that is probably not too much help - I wonder if you phoned up the lab you use and ask their advice???

[/quote]

I've seen same culture bottles used for synovial fluid and am sure ive seen them used for blood also, provided your sample is sterile. ensure you change the needle before injecting sample into bottle and the rubber stopper should also be swab with alcohol too, ensuring it has dried before introducing sample.

[/quote]

Oh as an added bit skin prep should be well performed ie surgical prep, sterile gloves should be worn.

If taking from a central line ensure that bungs are prepped prior to obtaining the sample.

Sample equipment shouldn't be put down onto unsterile area prior to sample taking.

You prob best to use a butterfly (winged) catheter to obtain sample so the syringe is as far away from the patient as possible.

Re: Blood Cultures

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:38:30 GMT

[quote user="Flick Tett RVN, MBVNA"]

Hiya - we have culture bottles (they are like injection bottles with a culture fluids in it - sterile) and we get them through our lab.

[/quote]

Re: Blood Cultures

Felicity Caldwell — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:29:46 GMT

Hiya - we have culture bottles (they are like injection bottles with a culture fluids in it - sterile) and we get them through our lab.

Re: Blood Cultures

Cat Woman — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:58:20 GMT

[quote user="Kim Blowing RVN"]

I have seen it done before but I can't for the life of me remember how. All I can remember is that you have to be really careful when collecting the blood to make it as sterile as possible. Sorry that probably isn't much help is it.

[/quote]

No! But thanks anyway. Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't know what to do!

Re: Blood Cultures

Kim Buckley — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:51:53 GMT