Blood culture collection
Aseptic technique, bottle order and avoiding contamination.
Why technique matters
Blood cultures look for bacteria or fungi in the blood. Skin organisms that get into the bottle can produce a false result and lead to unnecessary treatment.
Asepsis
Clean the skin with the antiseptic your local policy specifies and let it dry fully. Disinfect the bottle tops. Do not touch the site again after cleaning.
Order and volume
Blood cultures are taken before other tubes. Fill each bottle to the volume printed on it, because underfilling makes it less likely an organism will grow. Follow local guidance on which bottle to fill first.
Documentation
Record the time and site of collection, and anything the laboratory needs to interpret the result.
General information only. It is not accredited CPD and does not replace your training, your employer's procedures or the receiving laboratory's requirements.
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