Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood

Collection Container/Tube: 

Preferred:  SPS yellow top tube (sodium polyanethol sulfonate) - within four hours of collection

Acceptable:  BACTEC ^TM Blood culture bottle supplied by Alomere Hospital Laboratory

Specimen Volume:  Two 10 mL SPS tubes

Specimen Minimum Volume:  0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1.  After choosing a suitable site, the area is thoroughly cleansed with an alcohol prep first then chloraprep pad with back and forth strokes for 30 seconds, allow to dry.

2.  The tops of the SPS tubes are also cleansed with the alcohol prep first then chlorapred pad, allow to dry.

3.  Instead of Prevantics Chloraprep pad, use betadine for anyone < 2 months of age.

4.  Draw blood into SPS tubes using a vacutainer apparatus.

5.  If other specimens are to be drawn at the same time, be sure to fill the blood culture tubes first to avoid contamination, or prep any tubes used before blood culture tubes.

6.  If using a BACTEC bottle, prep bottle tops as listed above.  By using a 20 cc syringe (change needle prior to inoculating bottle) or butterfly apparatus, measure 10 mL of blood by using the graduations on the side of the blood culture bottle.  Do not vent bottle.