Medical Health Encyclopedia

Blood culture


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Alternative Names

Culture - blood


What the risks are

The blood culture is done in a lab. There are no risks to the patient. For information on risks related to giving a blood sample, see venipuncture.


Special considerations

A bacterial blood infection sometimes comes and goes, so a series of three blood cultures may be done to confirm results.



Review Date: 11/01/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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