Blood Culture Test Overview

If patients have an infection, doctors use a blood culture test to determine the type of infection affecting them. Doctors check for bacteria or yeast using this test to understand the nature of the infection and create a treatment plan accordingly. This test is common for patients with infections. However, a blood culture test cannot be used to diagnose viral infections.

So, if the results of this test are negative and they still have symptoms, further testing may be required to understand the type of infection that’s affecting the patient. This is generally not used as a routine test; in most cases, doctors prescribe a blood culture test based on symptoms.

Why Is A Blood Culture Test Prescribed?

A blood culture test is prescribed if doctors suspect the symptoms a patient is exhibiting are caused by a bacterial or yeast infection. These infections are known as systemic infections and can affect different organ systems and parts of the body. Some of the symptoms that warrant doctors to prescribe a blood culture test include:

Low blood pressure levels
Fever with chills
Increased heart rate
Unexplained fatigue or nausea
Inflammation in different body parts

Components of A Blood Culture Test

A blood culture test result is expressed as either positive or negative based on the presence of bacteria or yeast in the patient’s bloodstream. It is possible to get an early result in 24 hours for your test, which would only state if there is a presence of yeast or bacteria in your system or not.

It takes 48 to 72 hours to get a detailed report on whether the infection is caused by bacteria or yeast or what type of bacteria. Based on the reports of this test, doctors can determine the root cause of the symptoms and diagnose bacterial or yeast infections in patients. A blood infection can be a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment in a hospital. So, doctors may request patients to go through further testing to confirm their diagnosis.

Procedure And Prerequisites

The procedure for performing a blood culture test involves drawing blood from the veins of the patient’s arm and sending it for testing. There are no special prerequisites patients need to follow for this test. Blood culture test prices may vary among laboratories. Check with your local Aster Labs diagnostic centre today to get the best blood culture test prices.

CULTURE; BLOOD in Trivandrum

C0236

Daily

No Special Preparation Required

24 Hours

₹1,060

Parameters

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