Blood poisoning

There are three important goals when diagnosing sepsis. These are to determine:

• the type of infection
• the source of infection
• which body functions have been affected and how badly

To diagnose sepsis, several tests may be carried out, including:

• blood tests
• urine tests
• stool sample tests
• blood pressure tests
• a wound culture test (where a small sample of tissue, skin or fluid is taken from the affected area for testing)
• respiratory secretion testing (which involves testing a sample of your saliva, phlegm or mucus)
• imaging studies such as an X-ray or computerised tomography scan (CT scan)
• kidney, liver and heart function tests
• a spinal tap (where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is extracted from your back for testing)

In the case of suspected sepsis, it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible so appropriate treatment can be given. This can help stop the progress of sepsis and any long-term damage to the body.