Examination for mycobacteria are performed only on specific request.
Add 3mL of fluid to an EDTA tube and mix. This will be used for cell count and differential. Send fluid in a sterile yellow top container and blood culture bottles for culture and further testing. Culture cannot be performed from the EDTA tube.
Blood Culture bottle collections:
Adult (Plus Aerobic/F culture vial): 8-10 mL of fluid per bottle.
Adult (Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F culture vial): 8-10 mL of fluid per bottle.
Paediatric (Peds Plus/F culture vial): 1-3 mL of fluid per bottle.
Joint Fluids are often clotted on arrival and a count will not be performed. A Gram stain and differential count will be performed.
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