Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 48 hours of draw at ambient temperature. Specimen must arrive within 20 hours of draw if incubated.

Specimen Type: Blood

Container/Tube: Aerobic and anaerobic BACTEC blood culture bottles

Specimen Volume: 11 to 17 mL (inoculate 8-10 mL in aerobic bottle and 3-7 mL in anaerobic bottle)

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood at 30- to 60-minute intervals (no more than 3 per 24 hours) unless otherwise specified.

A. Sterilize tops of culture bottles with alcohol.
B. Apply tourniquet to patient’s arm.
C. Palpate area to locate vein, then remove tourniquet.
D. Sterilize area with alcohol and then 2 cyclohexadine swabs for 1 minute each; let site dry for about 1 minute.
E. Reapply tourniquet to patient’s arm. Do not palpate vein after sterilizing area.
2. Draw blood and inoculate into aerobic and anaerobic bottles. Mix well by inverting 4 or 5 times.

Additional Information: 

1. If blood is difficult to draw from patient, use a pediatric blood culture bottle and draw 1 to 3 mL of blood.

2. Label bottles with patient’s name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if appropriate), date of birth and/or Social Security number, and date and time of draw.