
Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult









The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult test detects and identifies the presence of aerobic microorganisms in the blood of adults (above 12 years of age). It helps diagnose bacterial infections of the blood (bacteremia), sepsis, and other infections that can become fatal if not timely treated. On identification of the organism, antibiotic susceptibilities are performed to aid in the selection of appropriate antibiotics for treatment.












Understanding Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult
Bacteremia or infections of the blood may be primary or occur secondary to infections at other sites of the body, such as lungs, urinary tract, skin, etc., medical procedures, or due to invasive devices such as catheters. The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult test identifies the aerobic microorganisms (those that need oxygen for survival) that cause bacteremia or other severe infections. This helps the doctor select appropriate antibiotics to optimize treatment outcomes and minimize the development of antibiotic resistance.
The doctor may suggest this test if you experience symptoms suggestive of bacteremia, such as fever, chills, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, etc. The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult test employs rapid automated cultures, which can identify the organisms earlier and with increased sensitivity compared to conventional culture.
No special preparation is needed for this test. However, inform the doctor about all the medications the child may be taking. This is because certain medications, such as antibiotics, can interfere with the test results and lead to false negatives if taken before the test. Your doctor may ask you to temporarily discontinue these medications to ensure accurate results.
A preliminary report is available after 24 hours of incubation of the blood sample in the laboratory, while the final report is available after 5 days. The preliminary report shows whether any micro-organisms have been detected in the blood sample. If growth is detected, early information about the microorganism and antibiotic susceptibility may also be provided. The final report contains confirmed and complete results.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. Based on these, the doctor analyzes which medications are best for treating the present condition and whether more testing or procedures are necessary to ensure effective therapy.
What does Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult measure?
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult test is used to detect micro-organisms in the bloodstream that can grow in oxygen-rich conditions and may cause serious blood infections. Severe infection may lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate medical attention. Identifying the right cause of infection makes initiating treatment and formulating an effective treatment plan easier.
The Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult is a simple test in which the blood sample is placed in a special container designed to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria that require oxygen for their survival. If test results are positive, the infection-causing bacteria are identified, and an antibiotic susceptibility test may be conducted to determine which antibiotics would be effective for treatment.
A preliminary (interim) report is available after 24 hours of incubation in the laboratory. This report indicates whether any micro-organisms have been detected in the blood sample. If microbial growth is observed, additional testing is performed to identify the microorganism and determine which antibiotics may be effective against it. These results may become available in subsequent updates and are included in the final report.
The antibiotic testing result may range from resistant (antibiotic unlikely to be effective) to sensitive (antibiotic is likely to work). Some reports may also include Intermediate (I) or Susceptible Dose-Dependent (SDD) categories; where-in your physician may decide on the antibiotic to be prescribed.
Because bloodstream infections can progress rapidly, the interim report can help healthcare providers assess the need for early treatment while awaiting complete results. The final report is generated after 5 days of incubation, allowing detection of slow-growing microorganisms that may not be identified within the first 24 hours. It also helps confirm the absence of microbial growth when no pathogens are detected.
Together, these findings help healthcare providers diagnose bloodstream infections and make informed treatment decisions.





FAQs related to Culture Aerobic Blood (Automated), Adult
- What is Sepsis? [Internet]. CDC; 24 Aug. 2023 [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- Sepsis. [Internet]. WHO; 19 Jul. 2023 [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- Evans T. Diagnosis and management of sepsis. Clin Med (Lond). 2018 Mar;18(2):146-149. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- Halperin AV, Del Castillo Polo JA, Cortes-Cuevas JL, Cardenas Isasi MJ, Ampuero Morisaki M, Birch R, Sánchez Díaz AM, Cantón R. Impact of Automated Blood Culture Systems on the Management of Bloodstream Infections: Results from a Crossover Diagnostic Clinical Trial. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Oct 26;10(5):e0143622. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- Dantes RB, Epstein L. Combatting Sepsis: A Public Health Perspective. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Sep 28;67(8):1300-1302. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- See KC. Management of sepsis in acute care. Singapore Med J. 2022 Jan;63(1):5-9. [Accessed 28 Oct. 2023]. Available from:
- Bullock B, Benham MD. Bacterial Sepsis. [Updated 2023 May 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from:
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