Akron Children's Logo
Skip to main content
Close Tools Menu Icon

Operator:

330-543-1000

Questions or Referrals:
ASK CHILDREN‘S

Close Phone Menu Icon
Akron Children's > For Healthcare Professionals > Lab Tests : Akron | Mahoning Valley

Blood Culture

PATIENT INFO
Patient Name:
Medical Record #:
BD:       /      /         Sex:   F   M

PHYSICIAN INFO
Physician Name :
Address:
Ph: (      )      -          Fax: (      )      -       
Additional Report to:
Ph: (      )      -          Fax: (      )      -       

TESTS REQUESTED
Test Name: ICD9 Code: (required)
1. Blood Culture  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  

SPECIMEN INFO
Collection Date & Time:
Collected By:
Hospital:
Test ID :
BLOOD
Test Workstation :
MIC3
Specimen Type:
Blood collected in set of blood culture bottle. Set is defined as one aerobic (green top) bottle and one anaerobic (orange top) bottle per draw site. Volume recommendation is based on patient weight. See further instructions in Epic.
Cause for Rejection:
Bottles received unlabeled may be rejected if the provider decides to collect another specimen. Otherwise the "Mislabeled Specimen Collection Form" must be filled out.
Storage:
Ambient
Availability:
Mon-Sun
Methodology:
Automated Detection Instrumentation
Special Instructions:
To prevent specimen contamination by microorganisms, use sterile supplies and aseptic technique to collect specimens.

Blood cultures should be drawn prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

If more than one culture is drawn, the specimens should be drawn from different sites.

Draw one aerobic (green top) and one anaerobic (orange top) bottle per draw site. If only one bottle can be drawn, please use the aerobic (green top) bottle.

When possible, two sets of cultures should be drawn at the same time from different sites.

See weight-based draw volume suggestions in Epic

Decreased sensitivity can results from underfilled bottles, delaying detection time and potentially yielding false negatives.

Do not overfill the bottles (>10mL in adult aerobic and anaerobic bottles), as this can lead to false positives.

Blood Culture is the recommended order for yeast blood infections. If other fungal blood infection is suspected, contact Infectious Disease at 3305433895.

NOTE: Be sure to cleanse top of blood culture bottle with chlorhexidine before inoculating with patient specimen.

Venipuncture collection:
1. Clean venipuncture site with chlorhexidine using back and forth friction scrub for 30 seconds. Allow it to dry for 30 seconds.
2. Do not retouch site; if you must repalpate for vein, the area must be recleaned using above procedure. Perform venipuncture.
3. When required amount of blood is received, remove needle from skin.
4. Hold pressure to site with gauze and apply adhesive bandage when bleeding stops.
5. Remove venipuncture needle from syringe and attach blunt fill needle and transfer device.
6. Remove tops of blood culture bottles and swab with chlorhexidine.
7. Inject blood specimens into bottles, place specimen into the anaerobic Orange bottle, then the aerobic Green bottle. If you only have enough blood for one bottle, place the specimen in the aerobic Green bottle. Be careful, the bottles are pressurized and will aspirate all of the blood from the syringe unless you control the flow with your thumb and index finger.

Line Draw Collection:
Careful attention to the technique of obtaining blood from the Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) must be observed. Risks of CVAD blood sampling include increased risk of central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) and increased risk of catheter occlusion. Stop infusions as needed, perform hand hygeine, and don clean gloves before starting.

Note: Consider a two-person technique to permit one person to draw and flush the central line and one person to transfer the specimen.
1. Remove alcohol-impregnated cap or scrub the hub with alcohol for 15 seconds. Let air day (about 15 seconds).
2. Attach 10 ml syringe to injection cap.
3. Draw required volume (no discard) from the line.
4. Place a sterile fill-needle on the end of the syringe of blood. Set aside or hand to second person to transfer specimen to culture bottles.
5. Flush the line with saline.
6. Connect the infusion or flush injection cap with heparin and place a new alcohol-impregnated cap.
7. Return to the draw syringe.
8. Remove tops of blood culture bottles. Clean bottle top with 70% isopropyl alcohol and allow to air dry.
9. Inject blood specimens into bottles. Indicate central line draw (by color for multi-lumen tunneled catheters and by side of port for multi-lumen implanted ports) or peripheral line.
Note: bottles are pressurized, and can aspirate all of the blood from the syringe unless you control the flow with your thumb and index finger.
Lab/Phone:
330-543-8406
TAT:
5 days
CPT Code:
87040

Back to top of page

By using this site, you consent to our use of cookies. To learn more, read our privacy policy.