Radiometric method for detection of bacteremia.

A study was performed with simulated blood cultures to evaluate the production of (14)CO(2) as an index of bacterial growth. With a range of inoculum sizes from 4 to 4,250 colony-forming units, it was not possible to detect (14)CO(2) within 6 hr after inoculation in 59 separate experiments. In a limited trial with patients' blood cultures, the radiometric method failed to provide any earlier evidence of bacteremia than did routine broth cultures.