Two sets of blood cultures are usually collected: one aerobic and one ______ cultures.

Study for the Cengage Microbiology Test with helpful multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

The key idea is that blood infections can be caused by organisms with different oxygen needs, so using both oxygen-present (aerobic) and oxygen-absent (anaerobic) culture bottles maximizes detection. Some bacteria are obligate anaerobes and only grow when oxygen is absent, while others are facultative and can grow in either condition. By collecting both types, you don’t miss organisms that might not grow in one environment. Viral cultures aren’t part of standard blood culture bottles, and fungal detection isn’t typically addressed with a separate fungal culture in routine practice. So the best choice is anaerobic.