Specimen Requirements

Blood
Container/Tube: BACTEC^TM Myco/F Lytic blood culture bottle

Specimen Volume: 1 mL to 5 mL of whole blood

Collection Instructions: Collect specimen as follows:

1. Sterilize top of blood culture bottle with alcohol.
2. Apply tourniquet to patient’s arm.
3. Palpate area to locate vein.
4. Sterilize area with alcohol and then 2 iodine swabs; let site dry for ≥1 minute. Do not palpate vein after sterilizing area.
5. Draw blood and inoculate into blood culture bottle. Mix blood by inverting bottle 4 or 5 times.
 

Note: 1. Label bottle with patient’s name (first and last), medical record number, and date and actual time of draw.

2. Specimen source is required.