Fungal culture - Blood

Detection and identification of fungal organisms in clinical specimens
Microbiology
Mycology
○ Blood Culture
Other Information
○ Swabs are not acceptable specimens for fungal culture
○ Many fungal species are slow growing and require prolonged periods of incubation. PCR would not be performed unless fungal elements were seen on primary stain but an organism failed to grow in culture

○ Please notify the laboratory if a dimorphic fungi is suspected (indicate on the requisition and/or phone the laboratory)
○ Blood culture (non-dimorphic): BD BACT/ALERT® FA Plus Aerobic, BD BACT/ALERT® FN Plus Anaerobic, BD BACT/ALERT® PediFAN (pediatric)
○ Blood culture (dimorphic or Malassezia furfur): Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) tube (yellow top tube) (8mL)

Blood culture (non-dimorphic)
○ Decontaminate skin with 70% alcohol followed by iodine or chlorhexidine, collect blood into appropriate bottle.

Blood culture (dimorphic)
○ Collect 8 mL of blood into a clean, sterile syringe with aseptic technique. Transfer the blood into an SPS tube. Transport to the laboratory immediately for processing.

Refer to section Sample Processing / Delivery
In-house
○ Up to 28 days
416-586-4800 extension 4494
○ NO; but laboratory should be notified if dimorphic fungal organism suspected
○ Label specimen container. Place specimens in biohazard bag and seal.

○ Specimens should be stored at room temperature (20-25˚C) after collection and transported to the UHN/SH Microbiology Laboratory ASAP.