The patient may resume taking any medications that were withheld before the test and can return to pretest activities right away. Use warm compresses if blood collects under the puncture site or if the area becomes tender, red or painful. Test results are determined by inoculating a culture medium, such as agar, and incubating it to identify germs. The tests results are available after 72 hrs or more and if there is no growth, culture plates may be incubated for a week or more before being reported as negative. No growth on culture plates.
Abnormal values indicate Bacterial endocarditis.
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