A blood culture is a test to detect germs such as bacteria or
fungi in the blood. One may be ordered when a child has symptoms
of an infection — such as a high fever or chills — and the
doctor suspects germs have spread into the blood. The culture
can show what type of germ is causing the infection, which will
determine how it is treated. To do the test, the doctor will
take a blood sample and send it to a lab for testing. Results
are ready in a few days. If a child is severely ill, the doctor
may start treatment before the results are complete, basing
treatment on the most likely cause of the infection. This can be
changed to be specific for the microbe found when the culture is
completed and the antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria or
fungi has been determined. Why Do a Blood Culture? During some
illnesses, certain infection-causing bacteria and fungi can
invade the bloodstream and spread into other parts of the body,
away from the original infection site. Their presence in the
blood usually means that a