Immunoglobulin and serum protein electrophoresis requesting is changing on 8 July 2026. Clinicians can now request immunoglobulins only or immunoglobulins and electrophoresis. This change will enable doctors to more effectively request the tests that are clinically indicated and streamline laboratory testing, delivering improved turnaround times for these tests. This change will apply to Epsom & St Helier Hospitals and their associated GPs initially, and will then be rolled out to all service users in south west London.
Blood culture
| Category | Bacteriology Medical Microbiology |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 7 days |
Additional information
Blue top – Aerobic (BD BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F, Purple top – Anaerobic- BD BACTEC Lytic/10 Anaerobic/F, Paediatric BD BACTEC Peds Plus/F (Pink top) BACT/ALERT® VIRTUO® – bioMerieux, Green top – adult aerobic/ BACT/ALERT® VIRTUO® – bioMerieux Yellow top – paediatric aerobic/BACT/ALERT® VIRTUO® – bioMerieux, Orange top – anaerobic
Aerobic blood culture. Prior to inoculation, disinfect the culture botle top, label the bottle with patient’s details without covering the barcode. Inoculate the bottle with between 8-10ml of the fluid; paediatric samples – inoculate the bottle with between 1-5ml of blood or send any sample you manage to obtain regardless of volume. After inoculation, disinfect the bottle top. Anaerobic culture; likely severe anaerobic infections on ITU; abdominal infections; deep abdominal abscesses; skin and soft tssue infections (particularly necrotising fasciitis); pelvic gynaecological infections; Severe throat infections: Lemierre’s syndrome; Immunosuppressed haematology/oncology patients; investigation of PUO
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