Putting the 3% blood culture contamination rate benchmark to the test

Today, experts suggest that overall institutional blood culture contamination (BCC) rates of <1% are now achievable, and therefore, should become the universal performance benchmark.¹

However, hospitals still measure themselves against the outdated Clinical Microbiology Laboratories (CML) standard² that said BCC rates should not exceed 3%, based on a 1998 Q Probe survey^3,4

Even when hospitals achieve the 3% rate, approximately one-third of their positive results are inaccurate. That means, about 1/3 of all patients who receive a positive blood culture result—and for whom antibiotic treatment is initiated—are put at risk unnecessarily.

Compare the laboratory result distribution of ‘All Blood Cultures’ to the subset of ‘Positive Blood Cultures’

3 percent blood culture contamination rate benchmark

We would not accept a test that wrongly detects pregnancy one in three times. Why tolerate these rates from blood culture testing?

Current false positive blood culture rates are unacceptable.

When hospitals aim for the 3% blood culture contamination rate benchmark¹, we hit the target but miss the point.

What is a false positive blood culture?

What is the industry standard blood culture contamination rate?

What are common blood culture contamination sources?

What are the costs of false positive blood cultures?

Why tackle blood culture contamination NOW?

REFERENCES:
¹ Doern GV et al. A Clin Microbiol Rev. 2019 Oct 30;33(1). Read Summary
² Clinical and laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Principles and procedures for blood cultures: approved guideline. CLSI document M47-A. Wayne (PA): Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2007.
³ Schifman RB et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1998 Mar;122(3):216-221.
⁴ Bekeris LG et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:1222-5.

ML-010 Rev C

Putting the 3% blood culture contamination rate benchmark to the test

Current false positive blood culture rates are unacceptable.

When hospitals aim for the 3% blood culture contamination rate benchmark1, we hit the target but miss the point.

When hospitals aim for the 3% blood culture contamination rate benchmark¹, we hit the target but miss the point.