ObjectiveTo explore the laboratory culture features of Brucella,and analyze positive alarming time (PAT) of Brucella detected by  BACTECTM9120 automated blood culture system．MethodsPAT of 76 Brucella isolates from clinical specimens were analyzed statistically, and compared with PAT of other pathogens.ResultsOf 76 Brucella isolates, 66(86.85%) were from blood specimen, 7(9.22%) were from bone marrow, and isolate from pus, cerebrospinal fluid and joint fluid was 1 (1.31%) for each. PAT of 76 Brucella was 72-120 h, the mean PAT of Brucella from bone marrow specimen was (84.51±8.86) h, which was significantly shorter than (98.27±10.32) h of blood specimen(t=3.39，P＜0.01）. The mean APT of Brucella from all specimens was (96.95±9.67) h, which was significantly longer than that of gramnegative bacilli (［15.43±16.56］ h),  grampositive cocci (［24.22±21.47］ h) and yeast(［50.60±26.48］ h) (t'=15.22,10.46,5.17，respectively, all P＜0.01）. ConclusionPAT of Brucella detected by  BACTECTM9120  automated blood culture system is significantly longer than other pathogens, PAT of Brucella from bone marrow specimen is significantly shorter than that from blood specimen.

Brucella; pathogen;blood culture; positive alarming time; laboratory technique and method