For patients with suspected bacterial endocarditis, 2 to 3 sets taken at different times should be sufficient to establish a diagnosis.

Collect blood cultures 20 minutes apart. If patient is too ill to wait 20 minutes, prior to administering antibiotics, collect the first set from one site and the second from a different site. 

Please provide clinical details. Extended incubation is required for query endocarditis, brucellosis or fungal infection.

Transport bottles at room temperature.

 Refer to Objectify Policy # 2086 Collection of Blood Cultures