A blood culture test enables your doctor to determine whether you have a certain illness that has spread throughout your body with your circulation. This infection is referred to as systemic. The test looks for bacteria or yeast that might be the source of the infection in a sample of your blood.
What is the need for a blood culture test?
If your doctor orders this test, they are looking for certain types of bacteria in your blood because they suspect you may have a systemic illness. That could aid them in developing the best course of action for your illness.
When a patient has the following symptoms, the doctor might recommend the blood culture test:
In case the infection is more severe, there are chances of having the following:
- Small blood clots formation in the small blood vessels
- Inflammation in different areas of your body
- A severe drop in your blood pressure
- Organ failure
What happens throughout the test?
During the blood culture test the medical professional will first clean your skin or the area where the blood will be taken. Then he or she will then place a tiny needle into a vein to obtain your blood for a sample. To provide the most precise reports, the procedure will be repeated using a different vein.
Your blood samples will be combined in a lab with a unique substance known as a culture media. If you already have bacteria or yeast in your blood, it promotes their growth.
After your blood tests, you might be able to acquire preliminary findings in less than 24 hours. You may have to wait 48 to 72 hours to find out what species of bacteria or yeast is infecting you. You may also require further testing.
Is there any risk associated with the blood culture test?
No, there are no risks or dangers associated with the blood culture test. Some people might feel discomfort or pain when the blood is taken or when the needle goes inside, but it disappears soon.
What Do the Findings Indicate?
Your physician could discuss "good" and "negative" outcomes. A "positive" blood culture test result often indicates that you have bacteria or yeast in your blood. A negative indicates that they are not present.
The bacterium or yeast that is causing your infection is likely the same type found in two or more of your blood cultures that test positive for it. A blood infection is a significant matter. You'll require emergency care, most likely in a hospital.
What If I Get Both Positive and Negative Results?
It is still possible that you get both positive and negative results; you might have an infection if one of your blood cultures is positive and the other is negative. Yet, it might also imply that one of the blood samples was contaminated with skin germs. Before reaching a diagnosis, your doctor may want further information or may prescribe additional testing.
You most likely don't have a blood illness brought on by bacteria or yeast if you are retested, and both of your blood culture tests come back negative. But if your symptoms persist, you could require more testing.
Why am I still experiencing symptoms if my results are negative?
There might be several causes of your symptoms when the blood culture test report is negative. You might need to obtain a unique sort of culture since some strains of bacteria and yeast are challenging to grow in a culture.
Additionally, viruses are undetectable by these cultures. So, more testing may be required if you have a viral illness.
