Blood cultures evaluation by gas chromatography of volatile fatty acids.

The volatile fatty acid profiles were determined by a simple gas chromatographic method in 375 microbiologically positive and negative blood cultures. Aerobic bacteria yielded profiles with low content of acids, some of which were chromatographically negative. Anaerobic bacteria produced more acids and more distinctive profiles. The method makes it possible to confirm the microbiological findings and to select the blood cultures containing anaerobic bacteria within 30 minutes.