BLOOD CULTURE COLLECTION  Gloves (sterile and non-sterile)

 2 syringes (adult: 20cc, pediatric: 5cc)

Learning Objectives:  2 needles (adult: 22 gauge or preferable larger
 By the end of this report the students will: butterfly or standard needle; pediatric: 25- or 23-
o Know and define the meaning of blood gauge butterfly or standard needle
culture;  Chlorhexidine swabs
o Know the proper procedure and  Plastic zip lock specimen bags
principles of blood culture collection PROCEDURE
o Know the recommended volume of blood
o Know the do’s and don’ts of blood culture  STEP 1-3 -CHECK, EXPLAIN, WASH
collection 1. Identify the patient by checking the arm band
or area specific procedure
What is blood culture? 2. Explain the procedure to the patient
 A blood culture is a test designed to detect if 3. Wash hands with soap and water with friction
microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are for 15 seconds or use alcohol-based hand
present in blood. Blood cultures can help identify rub
the type of microorganism that is causing an  STEP 4- Prep Cap
infection. This helps determine the best 4. Prep the rubber cap of the blood culture
treatment. They may be used to help diagnose bottles with an alcohol pad in a circular
septicemia (a serious blood infection0 and other motion. Allow the alcohol to dry
conditions.  STEP 5- Prep the puncture site
 Blood cultures are ordered as a set, which consist 5. Prep the puncture site with chlorhexidine:
of 2 bottles (aerobic bottle and anaerobic  Using aseptic technique remove the
bottle) applicator from its package
 Holding the applicator downward,
THE CONTAMINATED BLOOD CULTURE gently squeeze the wings to release
the solution
 If the skin is not adequately cleansed before  Scrub with a back & forth motion
drawing blood for culture, bacteria on the skin will using friction for 30 seconds on dry
be injected into the bottle, producing a false skin or 2 minutes on wet skin.
positive blood culture.
 Do not wipe the site after cleansing
 It is sometimes difficult for the physician to
the skin with chlorhexidine
determine whether the bacteria growing in the
 STEP 6- Gloves
blood culture is a real pathogen causing
6. Apply Gloves
bloodstream infection or whether bacteria on the
 If palpitation of site prior to puncture
skin have contaminated the culture. This can
is anticipated, wear sterile gloves.
lead to excess use of antibiotics and
prolongation of hospital stay.  If palpitation of site prior to puncture
is not anticipated, wear nonsterile
PRINCIPLES FOR COLLECTION gloves.
 STEP 7- Draw Blood
Gloves will be worn in accordance with standard 7. Draw blood. Note the appropriate volume to
precautions obtain:
A physician’s order must be obtained for SYRINGE AEROBIC ANAEROBIC
specimen collection. NEEDED BOTTLE BOTTLE
Appropriate verification of the patient’s identity, Adult 20 ml 10ml 10 ml
by means of an armband or area specific
procedure, will occur before the specimen
collection.
Cultures should be drawn before administration
Pediatric 20ml 2.5-10ml 2.5-10ml
of antibiotics, if possible
If at all possible, blood cultures should not be
drawn from lines, but should be drawn via
venipuncture Infant 3ml 0.5-1ml 0.5-1ml

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Adult (low All None
 Requisition and labels
volume)
 Sterile syringe
 Tourniquet
 Sterile Gauze, alcohol pads Note: Do not overfill bottles
 1 anaerobic culture bottle
 1 aerobic culture bottle
  STEP 8- Mix DO’S AND DON’TS IN BLOOD CULTURE
8. Gently rotate the bottles to mix the blood &
the broth (do not shake vigorously) DO. Blood culture bottles should be held at room
 STEP 9&10- Label & Send temperature and sent it without delay to the laboratory
9. Place the patient label on each bottle &label within 2 hours.
each culture bottle with the site of specimen DO. Always obtain using strict aseptic technique to
collection. When applying patient prevent contamination (false positive result)
identification labels, do not cover the bar
code label on the blood culture bottles. Attach DON’T. Do not blow on site, fan or wipe off the solution,
the laboratory specimen. this may result in contamination of blood culture.
10. Send the blood cultures to the Clinical
Microbiology receiving area as soon as DO. Fill bottles with proper volume.
possible
DON’T. Blood culture should not be drawn through
 STEP 11- Document
indwelling intravenous or intra-arterial catheter unless
11. Document the following medical record:
physician’s request.
- Date & time specimen obtained
- Site of specimen collection DON’T. Do not cover bottle bar code and should not write
 STEP 12- Second set over the bar code.
12. If 2 sets of blood cultures have been ordered,
obtain the second set in the same manner as DO. On the bottle, write MedTech initials, time collection,
the first, making a new venipuncture at and site collected.
different site
DO. After thoroughly mixing contents by gently inverting
BLOOD CULTURE RECOMMENDED VOLUME BASED the bottles, place lab bar code label vertically on the
ON PATIENT WEIGHT bottle.

PATIENT BLOOD MEDIA TYPE AND DON’T. Do not cover the bottle bar code or the sensor on
WEIGHT VOLUME INOCULATION VOLUME the bottom of the bottle.
KG TO
COLLECT
Aerobic Anaerobic

1 to 3 1ml 1ml
(<6.6lbs)

3.1 to 6 2ml 2ml

(6.6-
13lbs)

6.1 to 9 4ml 4ml

(13-20
lbs.)

9.2 to 12 6ml 4ml 2ml

(20-26
lbs.)

12.1to 20 8ml 4ml 4ml

(26-44
lbs.)
20.1 to 25 10ml 5ml 5ml
(44-55lbs)

25.1 to 40 15ml 10ml 5ml

(55-88
lbs.)

>40 (>88 20ml 10ml 10ml

lbs.)