How long does it take to get a good blood culture test if you've been on anti-biotics (7 days on Amoxicillin)?

Question

I've been on Amoxicillin for the past 7 days. I want to go into the doctors for a blood culture test, but don't if I should wait for a certain amount of time before going in for one.

So my question is...how long should one wait after being on anti-biotics for 7 days to get a good, accurate blood culture test? BTW, I took my last pill 24 hours ago.

Answer 1

I can't imagine why you'd ask for a blood culture. But the fact that you are well enough to post the question means that it won't be "accurate." The sensitivity of blood cultures in any clinical situation is quite low, generally less than 50%, and that includes people who are deathly ill with a known and serious bacterial illness.

Medicine should not run on a normal business model, and adding a blood culture to your order as you'd add fries to your burger and soft drink order is inappropriate. What you pay for in a doctor's office visit is mostly his expertise. Let him decide if and when you need tests.