Routine incubation of BacT/ALERT FA and FN blood culture bottles for more than 3 days may not be necessary

J Clin Microbiol. 2005 May;43(5):2506-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.5.2506-2509.2005.

Abstract

We reviewed time to detection for 35,500 blood cultures collected in BacT/ALERT FA and FN bottles. In the first 3 days of incubation, 97.5% of the 2,609 clinically significant isolates were detected, suggesting that routine incubation for more than 3 days may not be necessary for FA and FN bottles.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Bacteria, Anaerobic / growth & development
  • Bacteria, Anaerobic / isolation & purification
  • Bacteriological Techniques / instrumentation
  • Blood Specimen Collection / methods*
  • Humans