Lab test · Microbiology
Blood Culture and Sensitivity
Blood infection & right antibiotic
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 5 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Blood infection & right antibiotic
A blood culture checks for bacteria or yeasts in the bloodstream. The blood is placed in special bottles that allow any germs to grow, and if something grows, the laboratory identifies it and tests which antibiotics work against it (the sensitivity). It is the standard test for confirming typhoid fever and helps doctors choose the right antibiotic for a serious infection.
Why a doctor may order it
- High fever with chills or shivering, especially when it keeps returning
- Suspected typhoid fever, where blood culture is the main confirming test
- A serious infection that may have spread into the blood
- Suspected infection of the heart valves (endocarditis)
- To guide the choice of antibiotic when resistance is a concern
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
Where possible, the sample is taken before antibiotics are started, because antibiotics can stop germs from growing. Tell the collector about any antibiotics you have already taken, but do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. You can eat and drink normally, and your doctor may ask for more than one set of bottles.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- The collector cleans the skin carefully with antiseptic so that germs from the skin do not get into the sample, then draws blood from a vein in your arm into special culture bottles. The bottles are labelled and kept upright for the laboratory. It takes a few minutes.
- Report
- Within 5 days of collection.
What the results can mean
"No growth" means no germs grew during the laboratory's incubation period. If germs grow, the report names them and lists antibiotics as sensitive or resistant, which shows which ones are likely to work. Sometimes germs from the skin get into the bottle, so a single unusual result may need repeating. Your doctor will interpret the report and decide on treatment.
What's included
One test: Blood Culture and Sensitivity, from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)A complete blood count looks at the three main types of cells in your blood: red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help blood to clot.
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP), QuantitativeC-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver in response to inflammation.
- Widal TestThe Widal test looks for antibodies against the bacteria that cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever (Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi).
- Urine Culture and Sensitivity (Urine C/S)A urine culture checks whether bacteria are growing in your urine.
- Dengue IgM and IgG AntibodiesDengue infection (current or past)৳250
- Malaria Parasite (MP) Blood FilmMalaria detection৳190
Questions people ask
Why should blood culture be done before antibiotics?
Antibiotics can stop bacteria from growing in the bottle, which can give a false 'no growth' result even when there is an infection.
What does 'no growth' mean on a blood culture?
It means no bacteria or yeasts grew from your sample. It makes a bloodstream infection less likely, though your doctor will still consider your symptoms.
What is the sensitivity part of the report?
If germs grow, the laboratory tests them against a range of antibiotics. 'Sensitive' means the antibiotic is likely to work; 'resistant' means it is unlikely to work.
Is blood culture the best test for typhoid?
It is the standard test for confirming typhoid and works best early in the illness, before antibiotics are taken. Antibody tests such as Typhidot and Widal are less reliable.
How much does a Blood culture test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳1,390, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Blood culture test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Blood culture report take?
The report is usually ready within 5 days of the sample being collected.