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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 2009, p. 1645-1649, Vol. 47, No. 6
0095-1137/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00302-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Comparison of the Bactec 9240 and BacT/Alert Blood Culture Systems for Evaluation of Placental Cord Blood for Transfusion in Neonates{triangledown}

Stefan Riedel,1* Alan Junkins,2 Paul D. Stamper,1 Gretchen Cress,3 John A. Widness,3 and Gary V. Doern2

The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Baltimore, Maryland,1 University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Iowa City, Iowa,2 University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Iowa City, Iowa3

Received 10 February 2009/ Returned for modification 20 March 2009/ Accepted 2 April 2009

The Bactec 9240 and the BacT/Alert blood culture systems were compared as a means for detection of bacterial contaminants in whole blood, concentrated red cells, and plasma preparations prepared from umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples. Ninety-two UCB units seeded with low levels of various bacteria were evaluated. In more than 50% of cases, growth was not detected in plasma using either system (P < 0.001). When concentrated red cells and whole blood were compared, the Bactec system detected bacterial growth consistently sooner than the BacT/Alert system in all seeded bacteria except Staphylococcus species in whole blood. The median lengths of time to detection (LTD) for whole blood and concentrated cells in BacT/Alert were 18.7 h and 18.5 h, respectively. The median LTD for the same blood fractions using the Bactec system were 16.05 h and 15.64 h. These differences in LTD by blood culture system and sample type were statistically significant (whole blood, P = 0.0449; concentrated cells, P = 0.0037). Based on the results of our study, we recommend the use of either concentrated red cells or whole blood for sterility testing in UCB samples. In our laboratory, the Bactec system compared to the BacT/Alert system was the superior method for rapid detection of bacterial contaminants in cord blood.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, A Building, Room 102-B, Baltimore, MD 21224. Phone: (410) 550-6618. Fax: (410) 550-2109. E-mail: sriedel2{at}jhmi.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 15 April 2009.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 2009, p. 1645-1649, Vol. 47, No. 6
0095-1137/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.00302-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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