Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood

Non-pediatric Container/Tube: Aerobic (green top) and anaerobic (orange top) BACT/ALERT FAN PLUS blood culture bottles

Non-pediatric Specimen Volume: 5-10 mL in each bottle (green and orange top)

Pediatric Container/Tube: (yellow top) BACT/ALERT FAN PLUS blood culture bottle

Pediatric Specimen Volume: up to 4 mL (yellow top)

Collection Instructions:

1. Sterilize tops of bottles with 70% isopropyl alcohol.

2. Apply tourniquet to patient’s arm.

3. Palpate area to locate vein.

4. Thoroughly cleanse venipuncture site with 70% isopropyl alcohol prep moving in concentric circles to periphery. Do not palpate vein after sterilizing area. If site must be touched during venipuncture, disinfect gloved finger. Allow to dry.

5. Disinfect area using CHG prep pad. Apply using the same circular motion. Allow to dry. Do not touch the venipuncture site after prepping. If, needed, also do skin prep on gloved finger to be used for palpating site.

Note: if patient is <2 months use alcohol skin wipe twice

6. Using a syringe or butterfly collection kit for direct inoculation, draw blood into each BACT/ALERT FAN PLUS bottle starting with green (aerobic) bottle followed by the orange (anaerobic) bottle.

7. 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.

Additional Information: Specimen source is required.