Specimen Requirement

Preferred Collection Method:

Adult Routine: Direct draw into BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F Bottle
and then BD Bactec Plus Anaerobic/F Bottle bottle.

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare the BD Bactec Plus Aerobic/F bottle and  BD
   Bactec Plus Anaerobic/F Bottle by removing the plastic caps and
   wiping the tops of the bottles with 70% isopropyl alcohol. DO NOT
   USE IODINE. Use a fresh prep pad for each bottle.
2. Apply the tourniquet and select the site for venipuncture.
   After the site is selected remove the tourniquet.

3. Release the tourniquet and cleanse the venipuncture site with a
   chloraprep swab. Open chloraprep applicator package facing away
   from the patient while opening it, to avoid splashing or spraying
   of extra liquid onto the patient. Thoroughly cleanse the site for a
   full 30 seconds using a continuous back-and-forth/up-and-down
   friction scrub. Cover approximately a 3 inch area on the skin.
   Allow the area to dry for a full 30 seconds before performing the
   blood collection. Do not repalpate or touch the venipuncture site
   after cleansing. Do not use chlorapreps or iodine on babies
   less than 2 months old. Cleanse the site with 70% alcohol for 30
   seconds using an up-down/back-and-forth motion, let dry and repeat
   with a new alcohol pad moving concentrically outward, and let dry
   again. Do not use ChloraPrep on patients with
   known allergies to chlorhexidine gluconate or isopropyl
   alcohol.

4. Re-apply the tourniquet and avoid touching the cleansed
   venipuncture site. If the site must be palpated again, thoroughly
   clean the gloved finger with a chloraprep applicator swab and let
   dry.

5. Remove the needle guard and perform the venipuncture.

6. Blood is routinely collected directly into the blood culture
   media using a winged blood collection set with multiple luer
   adapter and a single use tube holder.

7. Fill the aerobic bottle first and then the anaerobic bottle so
   that oxygen in the tubing will not be introduced into the anaerobic
   bottle.

8. Completely fill each bottle with 8-10 mL of blood. Do not
   overfill. Avoid backflow by keeping the culture bottle lower than
   the collection site. Do not allow the blood culture media to
   contact the stopper or needle during collection.

9. Mix the bottle contents by inverting the bottles 4-5
   times.
10. Label the tubes with patient’s name, a second identifier
    (patient ID, DOB, etc.), date/time of collection and initials of
    the person collecting the specimen.

11. Blood culture bottles must reach the laboratory within 24 hours of collection.

Alternate Collection Method:

Adult Routine: 8.3 mL of blood is drawn into each of two
yellow-top vacuum tubes containing SPS which acts as an
anticoagulant.

Collection
procedure:        

1. The venipuncture materials should be prepared by first wiping
   off the top of the two SPS vacuum tubes with iodine. DO NOT USE
   ALCOHOL. Allow the tubes to air dry.
2. Apply the tourniquet and select the site for venipuncture.
   After the site is selected release the tourniquet.
   Avoid collecting blood through indwelling intravenous or
   intra-arterial catheters unless blood cannot be obtained by
   venipuncture. Make a notation on the requisition.
3. Cleanse the venipuncture site with a chloraprep swab. Open
   chloraprep applicator package facing away from the patient while
   opening it, to avoid splashing or spraying of extra liquid onto the
   patient. Thoroughly cleanse the site for a full 30 seconds using a
   continuous back-and-forth/up-and-down friction scrub. Cover
   approximately a 3 inch area on the skin. Allow the area to dry for
   a full 30 seconds before performing the blood collection. Do not
   repalpate or touch the venipuncture site after cleansing.
4. Re-apply the tourniquet and avoid touching the cleansed
   venipuncture site. If the site must be palpated again, thoroughly
   clean the gloved finger with a chloraprep applicator swab and let
   dry. Do not use chlorapreps or iodine on babies less than 2
   months old. Cleanse the site with 70% alcohol for 30 seconds using
   an up-down/back-and-forth motion, let dry and repeat with a new
   alcohol pad moving concentrically outward, and let dry
   again.
5. Remove the needle guard and perform the venipuncture. Fill
   two SPS vacuum tubes completely making sure to adequately
   mix the tubes 4-5 times.
6. Label the tubes with patient’s name, a second identifier
   (patient ID, DOB, etc.), date/time of collection and initials of
   the person collecting the specimen.
7. Blood culture bottles must reach the laboratory within 24 hours of collection. If SPS vacuum tubes are used the lab will transfer the sample into the Bactec
   bottles when received.