Blood Culture

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• If you have taken antibiotics recently. These medicines may stop the growth of bacteria in the culture.
• If the blood sample is contaminated by bacteria or fungus on the skin.
• If the blood test misses the time when bacteria are spilling into the blood. Blood culture tests are done at several different times to make sure bacteria are not missed.
• If the blood test is not done correctly or the blood sample is not processed properly. In these cases, a false-positive or false-negative result could occur.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: February 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
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