Blood culture collection

If blood is being collected for a range of tests, always collect the blood culture first

Equipment required

• Blood culture collection kit comprising:

  • Blood culture bottle set (Check expiry date) - 2 bottles for adults, 1 paediatric bottle for children

  • Winged Collection set (Butterfly type needle)

  • Adapter cap

  • Chloraprep 1.5ml Frepp applicator

  • Clinell wipe

• Pair of examination (non sterile) gloves

• Gauze and adhesive dressing for puncture site

• Sharps container and transport tray

Procedure

Step 1: Skin preparation

• Wash your hands with soap and water, then dry.

• Clean any visibly soiled skin on the patient with soap and water.

• Apply tourniquet and inspect/palpate to identify vein.

• Clean skin with Chloraprep applicator for at least 30 seconds and allow to dry.

Step 2: Kit preparation

Flip off lids of blood culture bottles and clean the tops with Clinell wipe and allow to dry.

Step 3: Sample collection using winged (Butterfly type) blood collection method

• Wash and dry your hands again or use alcohol rub and put on a pair of clean examination gloves.

• Attach winged collection set to blood collection adapter cap. Remove smaller blue inner adapter.

• Insert needle into prepared site. Do not palpate again after cleaning.

• Place adapter cap over blood culture bottle and pierce septum. Hold bottle upright and use bottle graduation lines to gauge accurately the sample volume and collect sample (10ml per bottle for adults and 4 ml for children - Do NOT overfill bottles). Inoculate aerobic bottle first.

• Ensure that the bottles are held in position during filling BELOW the vein, to ensure that culture liquid is not infused back into the patient.

• Loosen tourniquet, remove winged collection needle from vein, apply pressure to site with gauze and cover puncture site with appropriate dressing.

• Activate safety mechanism on winged culture needle and discard in sharps container with adapter cap. Do NOT re-use adapter cap.

• Remove gloves and discard as clinical waste. Wash hands with soap and water.

• Label bottles with patient details and date and time of collection. Do NOT put patient labels over barcodes on bottles.

• Record the procedure with indication for culture, time, site of venepuncture and any complications in the patient's notes.