Bacterial Culture & Susceptibility – Bone Marrow

Alternative Names/Synonyms	Culture-based detection of bacterial pathogens from bone marrow
Laboratory	Microbiology
Sub-section	Bacteriology
Specimen Type	○ Bone marrow aspirate ○ Bone marrow biopsy

Specimen Requirements (Tube Type)

○ Bone marrow aspirate: pediatric blood culture bottle and anaerobic blood culture bottle or SPS tube
○ Bone marrow biopsy: sterile container

Collection Requirements

Bone marrow aspirate
○ Collect bone marrow aspirates using a sterile needle and dispense into pediatric blood culture bottle (min volume 0.5 mL and preferably 3mL) and same volume into anaerobic blood culture bottle or SPS tube.
Bone marrow biopsy
○ Collect bone marrow biopsy and place in clean, sterile container, on a sterile saline soaked gauze.

Sample Stability

Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery

Referral Laboratory

In-house

Routine Turnaround Time

○ Up to 7 days

Laboratory Contact Information

416-586-4800 extension 4444

Approval Required

Sample Processing / Delivery

○ Label specimen container and outer biohazard specimen bag with printed electronic laboratory order sticker. Place specimens in biohazard bag, seal
○ Transport specimens to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory ASAP at refrigeration temperature (2-8˚C) if a delay of more than 2h is expected in transport. The blood culture bottles should be stored at room temperature (20-25 ˚C) even if a delay is expected.