BD BACTEC FX - 4.9 Removing Positive, Negative, and Ongoing Vials

4 – Operation
71
Reports cannot be printed at an instrument in degraded mode in a BD EpiCenter configuration.
To print a report:
1 Select the Reports tab.
2 Highlight the desired report by selecting it in the menu.
3 Select the desired criteria (Time Range, Sort By, Report By).
4 Select Print.
Refer to Section 5.4 for additional information and sample reports.
4.9 Removing Positive, Negative, and Ongoing Vials
Positive and Negative Vials
Many positive cultures will be detected in the first 24 hours after inoculation. However, ongoing
vials must still be kept for several days to ensure maximum recovery. With the BD
BACTEC FX
instrument, vials are typically held for 5 days (except Myco/F Lytic, Mycosis IC/F, Platelet

Aerobic/F, and Platelet Anaerobic/F culture vials) before they are discarded as negative. Each
laboratory should set the protocol length based on its own policies and conditions. Protocol length
can be from 3–42 days, depending on medium type.
You should perform a subculture and a Gram stain from each positive vial. In most cases,
organisms can be identified and a preliminary report can be made to the physician. Preliminary
antimicrobial susceptibility (AST) and identification (ID) procedures may also be set up from fluid in
the culture vials. The results from these preliminary tests should be confirmed by using
standardized laboratory procedures.
In a BD EpiCenter configuration, you can remove Negative and Positive (but not related) vials from
an instrument in degraded mode.
Single Negative Vial Removal vs. Batch Vial Removal
The instrument can be configured for either single negative vial removal or batch negative
removal. This option is set up in the Configuration – Lab display.
For Single Vial Removal, each negative vial that is removed must be scanned to confirm its
removal.
For Batch Vial Removal, vials do not have to be scanned. Vial presence sensors immediately
sense the removal of a vial and update the station LED indication and the status shown on the
LCD.
Vial Reentry
NOTE
For optimal time to detection and recovery, it is recommended that
vials remain in their original station throughout the protocol. See
table below.