e. to blood culture media and their respective containers (blood culture bottles), which are employed for the detection of bacteraemia by means of bacteriological cultures. As they may also be used for detecting septicaemia caused by funghi, information on the detection of funghi is also given in this standard. Ready-for-use blood culture bottles are only suitable for in vitro diagnostics. The purpose of this standard is to specify those physical, chemical and biological requirements for blood culture bottles and blood culture media which are necessary for their diagnostic use. These requirements constitute the prerequisite for ensuring the reliable detection of bacteria in patients' blood.