BCx
Medical abbreviation · Laboratory Test
| Stands for | Blood cultures |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
BCx stands for Blood cultures, a laboratory test abbreviation.
Bottles of blood incubated to detect bacteria or fungi in the bloodstream, drawn when sepsis, endocarditis or line infection is suspected. Adults typically have two sets drawn from separate venipuncture sites, each set an aerobic and an anaerobic bottle with about 10 mL of blood per bottle, before antibiotics are given.
Example: BCx x2 drawn from both arms; vancomycin and cefepime started.
Usage notes
"Cx" is chart shorthand for culture, giving BCx, UCx and similar forms. Most clinically important growth appears within 48 hours, though bottles are held for about five days. A single bottle growing coagulase-negative staphylococci is often a skin contaminant, and labs track contamination rates, aiming for no more than about 3 percent and ideally much lower.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- anti-CCP – Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
- Anti-Xa – Anti-factor Xa assay
- ApoB – Apolipoprotein B
- aPTT – Activated partial thromboplastin time
- ASO – Antistreptolysin O
- AST – Aspartate aminotransferase
- BE – Base excess
- BG – Blood glucose
- BMP – Basic metabolic panel
- BUN – Blood urea nitrogen
- C&S – Culture and sensitivity
- Ca – Calcium
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.