Does the Sample Fill Volume of BacT/ALERT Bottles Impact the
Detection of Positive Blood Cultures?
Kiora Pillay1*, Evanthia Tambosis1, Genevieve McKew1,2 and Steven Siarakas1
1Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Concord Repatriation General Hospital,
NSW Health Pathology, Concord, NSW, Australia
2Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Concord, NSW, Australia
*Corresponding Author: Kiora Pillay, Department of Microbiology and Infectious
Disease, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW Health Pathology, Concord,
NSW, Australia.
Received:
November 19, 2024; Published: December 04, 2024
Abstract
The fill volume of 460 blood culture samples were assessed for compliance across two Australian metropolitan hospitals. Results were
analysed according to collecting ward and patient demographics, showing only 22.6% of bottles were correctly filled. Additionally,
the rates of false positives and false negatives were analysed compared to sample fill volumes. Overfilled bottles had higher rates of
false positives (2.2%), whereas falsely flagging bottles did not show a strong correlation with under filling. Despite the high number
of underfilled bottles, no clinically significant organisms were missed.
Keywords:Laboratory Information System (LIS); Blood Culture
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