Specimen Requirements

Adults

1. Cleanse venipuncture site with ChloraPrep One-Step Frepp Applicator. Pinch wings on applicator to break ampule and release antiseptic. Do not touch sponge. Wet sponge by repeatedly pressing and releasing sponge against treatment area until liquid is visible on skin. Use repeated back-and-forth strokes of applicator for approximately 30 seconds. Completely wet treatment area with antiseptic. Allow area to air dry for 30 seconds. Do not blot or wipe away.
2. Clean tops of resin and lytic blood culture bottles with 70% to 95% alcohol prep. Allow each to dry for 1 minute.
3. Draw 20 mL of blood consecutively from each of 2 sites, utilizing 2 sterile syringes or blood collection sets.  Note: Blood should be drawn prior to antibiotic therapy (if applicable), if patient is on antibiotic therapy, draw blood prior to next dose (approximately 30 minutes).
4. Inoculate aerobic and anaerobic BACTEC blood culture bottles with blood drawn from each site. Do not put >10 mL of blood into each blood culture bottle.  Minimum volume for each adult blood culture bottles is 3mL.
5. Label each bottle with patient’s name, date of birth or hospital medical record number, specimen source, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and draw number (if a series).

Pediatrics

1. Cleanse venipuncture site with Sepp prep and tops of pediatric resin small volume blood culture bottles with 70% to 95% alcohol prep. Allow each to dry for 1 minute.
2. Blood should be drawn prior to antibiotic therapy (if applicable).  If patient is on antibiotic therapy, draw blood prior to next dose (approximately 30 mintues).
3. Inoculate pediatric BACTEC blood culture bottles with blood drawn from venipuncture site. Do not put >3 mL of blood into each pediatric resin small volume blood culture bottle or >10 mL into each adult resin and lytic blood culture bottle.  Minimum volume for pediatric blood culture bottles is 1 mL.
4. Label each bottle with  patient’s name, date of birth or hospital medical record number, specimen source, date and time of collection, collector’s initials, and draw number (if a series).