Blood Culture
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- One set of BACTEC Culture Bottles (1 aerobic and 1 anaerobic) are used for each Blood Culture ordered.
- Current guidelines recommend 2-3 sets be collected for optimal detection of bacteremia.
- Cleanse all sites (e.g., venipuncture and access sites: arterial port from blood line, arterial line from fistula needles and catheter port) for 30 seconds with a 70% Alcohol Prep Pad and another 30 seconds with iodine (e.g., Betadine) or chlorhexidine.
- Note: Adequate disinfection minimizes contamination from skin and environmental organisms.
- Remove flip-off dust caps from BACTEC Culture Bottles and disinfect rubber bottle tops with a 70% Alcohol Prep Pad, immediately before inoculating and allow to dry.
- CAUTION: Do not use any form of iodine to disinfect the tops of the bottles. It may affect the integrity of the rubber top of the culture bottle, causing false positive results.
- Push and hold Vacutainer holder over the top of the aerobic BACTEC Culture Bottle to puncture septum. Allow the bottle to automatically fill until 8-10 mL collects.
- CAUTION: Do not overfill or underfill BACTEC bottles, as this may reduce sensitivity and adversely affect recovery of microorganisms.
- Remove the aerobic BACTEC Culture Bottle from the holder.
- Insert the top of the anaerobic BACTEC Culture Bottle into the holder (you may use the same holder). Allow the bottle to automatically fill until 8-10 mL collects.
- Remove and discard the holder.
- Use the barcode labels with patient’s name and ID to identify each BACTEC Culture Bottle. Label each set with a separate order number.
- CAUTION: Do NOT place the patient’s bar code label over the bottle’s bar code label.
- Place in a transport bag.
- Hold at room temperature.
- Specimens are stable for 48 hours after collection.