Blood culture how long

Fungus can take up to 30 days to show up in the culture. If bacteria are found in the culture, another test is often done to find the best antibiotic that will kill the bacteria. This is called sensitivity or susceptibility testing. Sensitivity testing is important so the blood infection is treated correctly. This also helps prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. Test Overview Blood normally doesn't have any bacteria or fungi in it. Why It Is Done A blood culture is done to: Find a bacterial infection that has spread into the blood, such as meningitis , osteomyelitis , pneumonia , a kidney infection , or sepsis.

A culture can also show what type of bacteria is causing the infection. Find a fungal infection , such as yeast, in the blood. A blood culture is a safe procedure with minimal risks.

Some kids might feel faint or lightheaded from the test. A few kids and teens have a strong fear of needles. If your child is anxious, talk with the doctor before the test about ways to make the procedure easier.

A small bruise or mild soreness around the blood test site is common and can last for a few days. Get medical care for your child if the discomfort gets worse or lasts longer. If you have questions about the blood culture, speak with your doctor or the health professional doing the blood draw. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Blood Test? What Is a Blood Culture? Why Are Blood Cultures Done? How Is a Blood Culture Done?

Results are often available within a few days. But some types of bacteria grow slowly, and it may take several days or longer. Bacteria culture tests are used to help diagnose certain types of infections. The most common types of bacteria tests and their uses are listed below. Your health care provider may order a bacteria culture test if you have symptoms of a bacterial infection. The symptoms vary depending on the type of infection. Your test sample doesn't contain enough cells for your health care provider to detect an infection.

So your sample will be sent to a lab to allow the cells to grow. If there is an infection, the infected cells will multiply. Most disease-causing bacteria will grow enough to be seen within one to two days, but it can take some organisms five days or longer.

There are many different types of bacteria culture tests. Ask your health care provider if you need to do anything to prepare for your test. If enough bacteria is found in your sample, it likely means you have a bacterial infection. Your health care provider may order additional tests to confirm a diagnosis or determine the severity of the infection. Your provider may also order a "susceptibility test" on your sample. A susceptibility test is used to help determine which antibiotic will be most effective in treating your infection.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance allows harmful bacteria to change in a way makes antibiotics less effective or not effective at all.

This can be dangerous to you and to the community at large, as this bacteria can be spread to others.