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Bone Marrow Culture

Blood Culture

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231904

Department

Microbiology

Instructions

• Prepare puncture site as for surgical incision
• Aseptically aspirate bone marrow
• Vigorously cleanse the rubber septum of a pediatric blood culture bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe and allow to dry. (Do NOT use iodine.)
• Inoculate up to 3 mL of bone marrow aspirate into a pediatric blood culture bottle

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Pediatric blood culture bottle.

• Sterile tubes containing Lithium or Sodium Heparin:
  • Can be used for fungal and mycobacterial cultures.
  • Can not be used for bacterial culture.
• See AFB Culture and Smear [LAB8770] and Fungal Culture [LAB240] for instructions for AFB and fungal bone marrow cultures

All bone marrow specimens must be considered STAT. Transport immediately to the Laboratory for processing.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

• Protect from direct sunlight.
• Maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Blood culture bottles, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

• Bottles not labeled or improperly labeled.
• Leaking bottles.
• Cracked, broken, or externally contaminated specimens.
• Specimens collected in expired bottles.
• Refrigerated or frozen specimens.
• Specimens received more than 24 hours after collection.
• Specimens in collection devices other than blood culture bottles, including tubes containing EDTA.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Send specimens to Microbiology Laboratory immediately.

In-Lab Processing

Blood cultures should be transported to the Microbiology Laboratory as soon as possible. Follow standard (universal) precautions: wear gloves and handle all inoculated bottles as though capable of transmitting infectious diseases.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 24 hours*
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

*Specimens greater than 24 hours old will require approval of the Microbiology Technical Director before testing.

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Positive bottles will be held for one week following detection of growth. Negative bottles will be disposed after testing is complete (five days).

Laboratory

Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Preliminary results available in 12 hours.
Final negative results in 5 days.

Reference Range

Negative.

Test Methodology

Culture.

Interpretation

The detection of microorganisms in the bone marrow may indicate infection. Cultures in which microorganisms known to be skin flora or environmental organisms are recovered may represent contamination during collection.

Incubation Period

Variable.

Reference

1. Baron, E.J., M.P. Weinstein, W.M. Dunne, Jr., P. Yagupsky, D.F. Welch, and D.M. Wilson. 2005. Cumitech 1C, Blood Cultures IV. Coord.ed. E.J. Baron. ASM Press. Washington D.C.
2. York, Gilligan, P., K. Alby, M.K. 2016. Blood Cultures. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook 4thed. Leber, A.L., Ed. in Chief. ASM Press. Washington D.C., pp. 3.4.1.
3. Miller, M.J., Miller, S.A. 2017. A Guide To Specimen Management in Clinical Microbiology. ASM Press. Washington D.C.

CPT Codes

87040

LOINC: 60258-7

Contacts

Last Updated

7/28/2025