TABLE 2.
Proportion of Patients With Abnormal Laboratory Results
| Laboratory Result | BC Positive for a Pathogen (n = 29) | BC Negative or Contaminant (n = 67)a | P b |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-reactive protein, N (%, 95% CI) | 26 of 29 (89, 74–96) | 33 of 62 (53, 41–65) | <.001 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, N (%, 95% CI) | 14 of 29 (48, 31–66) | 19 of 62 (31, 21–43) | .10 |
| Absolute neutrophil count, N (%, 95% CI) | 6 of 29 (21, 10–38) | 8 of 61 (13, 7–24) | .35 |
| White blood cells, N (%, 95% CI) | 5 of 29 (17, 8–35) | 12 of 61 (20, 12–31) | .78 |
Abnormal cutoff values: C-reactive protein, 30 mg/L; erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 40 mm per hour; absolute neutrophil count, 10.0 × 109/L; white blood cell count, 15.0 × 109/L.
a
Some patients in the culture negative/contaminant did not have laboratory tests ordered.
b
2 × 2 categorical data, χ2 test.