Impact of Laboratory Analytical Indicators on Positive Blood Culture Detection Rates: A Single Center Study.

Di WANG; Ling Li LIU; Rui Rui MA; Li Jun DU; Gui Xue CHENG; Ya Li LIU; Qiao Lian YI; Ying Chun XU

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Impact of Laboratory Analytical Indicators on Positive Blood Culture Detection Rates: A Single Center Study.

Author: Di WANG ¹ ; Ling Li LIU ¹ ; Rui Rui MA ¹ ; Li Jun DU ² ; Gui Xue CHENG ³ ; Ya Li LIU ¹ ; Qiao Lian YI ¹ ; Ying Chun XU ¹
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1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanchong Central Hospital, the Second Clinical Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 634700, Sichuan, China;Jinan University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong, China.
3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Blood culture; Laboratory analytical indicators; Pathogens; Time-to-detection; Total pre-analytical time
MeSH: Blood Culture/statistics & numerical data*; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data*
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):303-312
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results. We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results.
METHODS:Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of transportation (piping logistics delivery vs. staff), source of blood cultures (outpatient/emergency department vs. inpatient department), rotation of personnel, and time of reception (8:00-19:59 vs. 20:00-07:59) were compared between blood culture-positive and -negative results.
RESULTS:Between 2020 and 2022, the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%. The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department (12.46% vs. 5.83%; P < 0.0001). The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation. The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1-2 h or > 2 h ( P < 0.0170).
CONCLUSION:Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source, transportation mode, and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.