False-positive of blood culture instrument: leukocytosis, overfilled vials or defective position?

False-positive of blood culture instrument: leukocytosis, overfilled vials or defective position? Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2019 Dec 01;77(6):665-667 Authors: Pitsch A, Ergani A, Vasse M, Farfour E Abstract Continuous monitoring of the performances of blood culture instrument can be based on the indicators proposed by the QUAMIC. Of these, the analytic performance indicator evaluates the rate of false-positive vials. False-positives vials can be reported by the device in case of leukocytosis or when vials are overfilled. In our laboratory, we record prospectively in our software all false positive vials as well as the position used for their incubation. These data are analyzed at least twice a year. For the first half of 2016, this strategy allowed us to identify a defective position. We then evaluated the impact of this anomaly as very weak. The one-year follow-up after the position repair confirmed a correction of the problem. Thus, traceability of positions reporting unexplained false-positive vials (i.e. neither due to leukocytosis nor overfilled vials) can allow laboratories to identify a defective position. This survey, if done prospectively, is simple to perform and not time-consuming. It could usefully complement the analytical performance indicator based on the false-positive rate. PMID: 31859643 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Annales de Biologie Clinique - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Ann Biol Clin (Paris) Source Type: research