MODULE 9: BLOOD COLLECTION FOR

CULTURE A.GOMEZ
PMTP2/SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY

hand should appear blanched or

drained of color.
RATIONALE
7. Lower the patient's hand and release
pressure on the ulnar artery only.

Positive Allen test

● The hand flushes pink or returns to
normal color within 15 seconds,
indicating the return of blood to the
hand via the ulnar artery and the
presence of collateral circulation. If the
Allen test is positive, proceed to the
arterial blood gas collection.

Negative Allen test

● The hand does not flush pink or return
● The modified allen test is performed to to normal color within 15 seconds,
ascertain collateral blood flow to the indicating the inability of the ulnar
hand prior to the radial arterial blood artery to adequately supply blood to
gas (ABG). This test is usually done at the hand, leading to the absence of
the bedside by the phlebotomist to collateral circulation. If the Allen test is
patients who will undergo ABG test. negative, the radial artery should not
● MATERIAL : GLOVES be used and another site must be
● Procedure: selected.
1. Properly identify the Patient.
2. Orient the patient on the procedure
to be performed.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly with
warm, soapy water, and put on your
gloves.
4. Ask the patient to make a tight fist.
5. Using the middle and index fingers of
both hands, apply pressure on the
patients's wrist, compressing both the
radial and ulnar arteries at the same
time.
6. While maintaining pressure, have the
patient open his/her hand slowly. The

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MODULE 9: BLOOD COLLECTION FOR
CULTURE A.GOMEZ
PMTP2/SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY

Materials:
● Gloves
● Alcohol/alcohol pre pads ● Clean with antiseptic – 70%
● Povidone Iodine/Benzalkonium isopropyl alcohol for a minimum of
chloride 30 seconds.
● Gauze pads or cotton balls ● Use a tincture of iodine for 30
● Tourniquet seconds or a povidone iodine
swabstick for 30 seconds to
● Blood collection bottles/ aerobic,
cleanse the site
anaerobic, ARD or tubes
● Begin in the center moving
● Needle(two way/ butterfly needle
outward in concentric circles
● Syringe
● Do not go over any area more than
● Sharp containers
once
● Permanent marker or pen
● Allow the site to dry
13. Remove the protective flip flop
covering the rubber septum and clean
Procedure:
the top of the bottles with 70%alcohol
1. Obtain and access the test or iodine.
required ● Mark minimum and maximum fill lines.
2. Identify the patient ● ADULT:5-10 mL
3. Prepare the patient for testing 14. Reapply the tourniquet
○ Observe proper
bedside manner ● Do not touch the cleansed area
○ Explain the 15. Note the several different ways or
procedure means by which broth inoculation can
○ Obtain consent occur.
4. Assemble the equipments and
● Collect directly into the bottles using a
supplies
butterfly needle
5. Wash hands and put on gloves
● Fill the aerobic vial first
6. Reassure the patient
● Avoid backflow by keeping the culture
7. Position the patient
bottle lower than the collection site
8. Apply the tourniquet
● Fill aerobic and anaerobic bottles with
9. Ask the patient to make a fist
5-10 ml blood
10. Select the venipuncture site
● Fill pediatric bottles with 1-3ml of blood
11. Release the tourniquet
● Syringe Method
12. Clean the site

2 ( A.N.C.G)
MODULE 9: BLOOD COLLECTION FOR
CULTURE
PMTP2/SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY
● Transfer the blood into the bottles after
the draw is completed
● Use a transfer device. Fill anaerobic vial
first
● If using the needle on the syringe for
transfer, do not hold the culture bottle
with your hand to avoid accidental
needle sticks
● Intermediate collection tube
● A sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS)
yellow top is acceptable
● Blood must be transferred from the
tube into the culture bottles
16. Check the patient’s arm and clean
the iodine from the patients skin with
alcohol pad
17. Label culture bottles including the
site of collection
18. Dispose of contaminated materials
19. Thank the patient
20. Remove gloves and wash hands
21. Check specimen collection logs (if
applicable)
22. Transport the specimen to the
laboratory
BLOOD CULTURE SPECIMENS
• Requires 10 to 30ml (commonly 5-10
ml, depending on manufacturer’s
guidelines) of blood to be obtained at
one time from another
• May be limited to patients with more
severe disease (eg. Hospitalized
patients)
A.GOMEZ
• Specimen should be drawn when the
patient is experiencing signs and
symptoms of bloodstream infection
•Typically, two sets of blood cultures
are ordered and each set contains one
aerobic and one anaerobic bottle
•If more than one blood specimen is to
be drawn during a single venipuncture,
specimens for blood culture should be
drawn first to maintain asepsis and
prevent contamination with additives
from other tubes.
•If the patient has been receiving
antibiotics at the time the blood
cultures are obtained, the laboratory
should be informed because an additive
can be applied to the blood culture
medium to negate the antibiotic’s
effect.
OPTIMAL TIMING FOR
COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN
•Whole blood should be collected as
soon as possible after onset of illness
and ideally before initiation of
antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis or
therapy.
Materials
• Gloves
• Alcohol/alcohol pre pads
• Povidone Iodine/Benzalkonium
chloride
• Gauze pads or cotton balls
• Tourniquet
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MODULE 9: BLOOD COLLECTION FOR
CULTURE
PMTP2/SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY
• Blood collection bottles/ aerobic,
anaerobic, ARD or tubes
• Needle(two way/ butterfly needle)
• Syringe
• Sharp containers
• Permanent marker or pen
Procedures
•Obtain and access the test required
•Identify the patient
•Prepare the patient for testing
• Observe proper bedside manner
• Explain the procedure
• Obtain consent
•Assemble the equipments and
supplies
•Wash hands and put on gloves
•Reassure the patient
•Position the patient
•Apply the tourniquet
•Ask the patient to make a fist
•Select the venipuncture site
•Release the tourniquet
A.GOMEZ
•Clean the site
• Clean with antiseptic – 70% isopropyl
alcohol for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Use a tincture of iodine for 30
seconds or a povidone iodine swabstick
for 30 seconds to cleanse the site
• Begin in the center moving outward in
concentric circles
• Do not go over any area more than
once
•Allow the site to air dry.
•Remove the protective flip flop
covering the rubber septum and
clean the top of the bottles with
70%alcohol or iodine.
• Mark minimum and maximum fill
lines.
• ADULT:5-10 mL
•Reapply the tourniquet
• Do not touch the cleansed area
• Note the several different ways or
means by which broth inoculation can
occur.
• Collect directly into the bottles using
a butterfly needle
• Fill the aerobic vial first
• Avoid backflow by keeping the culture
bottle lower than the collection site
• Fill aerobic and anaerobic bottles with
5-10 ml blood
• Fill pediatric bottles with 1-3ml of
blood
4 ( A.N.C.G)
MODULE 9: BLOOD COLLECTION FOR
CULTURE A.GOMEZ
PMTP2/SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY/CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY

• Syringe Method

• Transfer the blood into the bottles

after the draw is completed

• Use a transfer device. Fill anaerobic

vial first

• If using the needle on the syringe for

transfer, do not hold the culture bottle

with your hand to avoid accidental

needle sticks

• Intermediate collection tube

• A sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS)

yellow top is acceptable

• Blood must be transferred from the

tube into the culture bottles

• Check the patient’s arm and clean the

iodine from the patients skin with
alcohol pad

• Label culture bottles including the

site of collection

• Dispose of contaminated materials

• Thank the patient

• Remove gloves and wash hands

• Check specimen collection logs (if

applicable)

• Transport the specimen to the

laboratory

5 ( A.N.C.G)