TABLE 1.

Final bacterial concentrations achieved with different processing methods for positive blood cultures^a

Processing method	Dilution	Final concentrations in test (CFU/ml)
		Mean	Minimum	Maximum
Filtration/dilution	1:100	1.2 × 106	1.8 × 105	3.5 × 106
	1:1.000	1.2 × 105	1.8 × 104	3.5 × 105
	1:10,000	1.2 × 104	1.8 × 103	3.5 × 104
Dilution	1:100	1.5 × 106	4.2 × 105	3.9 × 106
	1:1,000	1.5 × 105	4.2 × 104	3.9 × 105
	1:10,000	1.5 × 104	4.2 × 103	3.9 × 104
Lysis/centrifugation		4.4 × 105	8.3 × 104	1.1 × 106
Differential centrifugation		4.6 × 105	1.0 × 105	8.9 × 105

^an = 28.