Private Blood Culture Test London

UK Blood Culture Test

The blood culture test is a test that will check a sample of blood for any germs like bacteria or fungi that may cause disease.  After the blood sample is taken, it will be placed into a special container in a laboratory which is then ‘cultured’ for germs to grow which are then and will be monitored.

What is meant by a blood culture diagnosis?

This kind of test is often used to diagnose an infection and to find out if any germs are present in a patient’s blood stream. This type of culture test will identify specific germs causing specific infections and this will be useful for deciding on what treatment should be given.

What is involved in a blood culture test?

• To make a diagnosis: In the testing for fungi and bacteria and for confirmation that infection is the cause of the symptoms being suffered by a patient.  if viral infection is suspected then more specific viral testing can be done.
• Identify: Growing germs in the lab from a patient’s blood sample, will identify a specific germ or strain that is giving rise to the infection
• Assessing severity of infection: as well as identifying the type of germ that is responsible for the infection the blood culture test will also be able to show how extensive the infection is and whether it has entered the patients’ blood stream. it is important to know this because once it is in the blood stream, an infection can spread more easily to other parts of a patient’s body.  infections of the blood can also be a trigger for a life-threatening inflammatory reaction – sepsis.
• To plan treatment: once a laboratory culture has grown, a sensitivity test will be done to find out which antibiotic will best tackle the infection.
• To monitor: Repeated blood culture tests will give medical professionals an insight into the response to the treatment and also indicate if the blood is free of infection.

A Blood Culture Test  – where to get one.

How you can be tested

The blood culture test is one that will be ordered by a doctor or healthcare professional and may require several blood samples to be taken from different sites.  This will normally be done in the doctor’s surgery in the hospital or in a health clinic and then sent to a laboratory.

Can I do my blood testing at home?

No, there are no kits for blood culture testing to be done at home. The procedures that are required for blood culture testing are very specific and can only be performed by a qualified professional.

How much Will a blood culture test cost?

There is no fixed price for a blood culture test because there are often several factors involved such as:

• where you have the blood sample taken
• the number of blood samples taken
• the exact nature of the culture testing
• any extra tests that may be done along with the initial culture
• whether or not you have any health insurance

if you do have private medical insurance check with your insurer first to find out what testing is covered by your policy and if there are any deductibles that you will have to pay yourself.