Specimen Collection & Handling

Our Specimen Collection & Handling Guide

Supplies Types of Specimen Collection Containers General Specimen Preparation General Sample Storage Instructions on Collection of Blood Cultures Collection and Transportation of Microbiology Specimens Tips Regarding Sample Collection Conditions for Medical Centre In-Clinic Phlebotomy Services for Tests with Special Sample Collection Requirement

Instructions on Collection of Blood Cultures

USING WINGED BLOOD COLLECTION SET

(Preferred method of collection)

Step 1: Check Patient ID & Prepare Materials
	■ Confirm the patient's identity.
	■ Prepare the collection kit.
	■ Do not inoculate the bottles 1 month prior to the expiration date. ■ Do not use bottles showing signs of damage, deterioration or contamination. ■ Identify the Fill-to Mark or mark the target fill level on the label.
Step 2: Prepare Bottles for Inoculation
	■ Wash hands or use an alcohol hand rub.
	■ Remove the plastic "flip-cap''. ■ Disinfect the bottle septum and allow to dry.
Step 3: Prepare Venipuncture Site
	■ Apply a disposable tourniquet.
	■ Palpate to find a vein. ■ Apply clean examination gloves.
	■ Disinfect the skin. ■ Allow the site to air dry.
Step 4: Venipuncture
	■ Attach the collection set to the adapter cap.* ■ To prevent contamination, do not re-palpate. ■ Insert the needle into the prepared vein.
Step 5: Bottle Inoculation
	■ Collect the anaerobic bottle first. ■ Place adapter cap over bottle top. ■ Press straight down to pierce septum.
	■ Hold the bottle upright. ■ Collect 10 ml of blood per adult bottle and up to 4 ml per pediatric bottle. **
	■ Ensure the bottle is correctly filled to the Fill-to Mark or target fill level, as shown. ■ Repeat for the anaerobic bottle.
Step 6: Other Blood tests
	■ If collecting blood for additional tests, always collect blood cultures first. ■ If the adapter cap used requires an insert, place the insert into the cap before collecting blood for other tests.
Step 7: Finish the Procedure
	■ Discard the needle and syringe into a sharps container and cover the puncture site. ■ Remove gloves and wash hands
	■ Record collection date, time and site and label bottles according to manufacturer's recommendations. ■ Transport inoculated bottles as quickly as possible to the laboratory for testing.

* The use of blood collection sets without blood collection adapters is not recommended.

**Avoid holding the blood culture bottle in a horizontal or upside-down position or drawing blood with a needle connected directly to the adaptor cap, as fill level cannot be monitored during collection and there is a possible risk of media reflux into the bloodstream.

USING NEEDLE AND SYRINGE

Wherever possible. replace conventional needles and syringes with winged blood collection sets. which are safer.

Step 1: Check Patient ID & Prepare Materials
	■ Confirm the patient's identity.
	■ Prepare the collection kit.
	■ Do not inoculate the bottles 1 month prior to the expiration date. ■ Do not use bottles showing signs of damage, deterioration or contamination. ■ Identify the Fill-to Mark or mark the target fill level on the label.
Step 2: Prepare Bottles for Inoculation
	■ Wash hands or use an alcohol hand rub.
	■ Remove the plastic "flip-cap''. ■ Disinfect the bottle septum and allow to dry.
Step 3: Prepare Venipuncture Site
	■ Apply a disposable tourniquet.
	■ Palpate to find a vein. ■ Apply clean examination glove.
	■ Disinfect the skin. ■ Allow the site to air dry.
Step 4: Venipuncture
	■ Attach the needle to a syringe. ■ To prevent contamination, do not re-palpate. ■ Insert the needle into the prepared vein. ■ Collect the sample.
Step 5: Bottle Inoculation
	■ Inoculate the anaerobic bottle first. ■ Hold the bottle upright. ■ Add 10 ml of blood per adult bottle.
	■ Repeat for the aerobic bottle. ■ Add 10 ml of blood per adult bottle. ■ Add up to 4 ml per pediatric bottle.
	■ Ensure the bottle is correctly filled to the Fill-to Mark or target fill level, as shown.
Step 6: Other Blood tests
	■ If collecting blood for additional tests, always collect blood cultures first.
Step 7: Finish the Procedure
	■ Discard the needle and syringe into a sharps container and cover the puncture site. ■ Remove gloves and wash hands
	■ Record collection date, time and site and label bottles according to manufacturer's recommendations. ■ Transport inoculated bottles as quickly as possible to the laboratory for testing.

These recommendation illustrations were sourced from bioMérieux (Accessed on 20/10/2024) https://www.biomerieux.com/corp/en/education/medical-education/educational-booklets/blood-culture-a-key-investigation-for-diagnosis-of-blood-stream-infections/recommendation-for-blood-culture-collection.html

USING WINGED BLOOD COLLECTION SET

(Preferred method of collection)

Step 1: Check Patient ID & Prepare Materials
	■ Confirm the patient's identity.
	■ Prepare the collection kit.
	■ Do not inoculate the bottles 1 month prior to the expiration date. ■ Do not use bottles showing signs of damage, deterioration or contamination. ■ Identify the Fill-to Mark or mark the target fill level on the label.
Step 2: Prepare Bottles for Inoculation
	■ Wash hands or use an alcohol hand rub.
	■ Remove the plastic "flip-cap''. ■ Disinfect the bottle septum and allow to dry.
Step 3: Prepare Venipuncture Site
	■ Apply a disposable tourniquet.
	■ Palpate to find a vein. ■ Apply clean examination gloves.
	■ Disinfect the skin. ■ Allow the site to air dry.
Step 4: Venipuncture
	■ Attach the collection set to the adapter cap.* ■ To prevent contamination, do not re-palpate. ■ Insert the needle into the prepared vein.
Step 5: Bottle Inoculation
	■ Collect the anaerobic bottle first. ■ Place adapter cap over bottle top. ■ Press straight down to pierce septum.
	■ Hold the bottle upright. ■ Collect 10 ml of blood per adult bottle and up to 4 ml per pediatric bottle. **
	■ Ensure the bottle is correctly filled to the Fill-to Mark or target fill level, as shown. ■ Repeat for the anaerobic bottle.
Step 6: Other Blood tests
	■ If collecting blood for additional tests, always collect blood cultures first. ■ If the adapter cap used requires an insert, place the insert into the cap before collecting blood for other tests.
Step 7: Finish the Procedure
	■ Discard the needle and syringe into a sharps container and cover the puncture site. ■ Remove gloves and wash hands
	■ Record collection date, time and site and label bottles according to manufacturer's recommendations. ■ Transport inoculated bottles as quickly as possible to the laboratory for testing.

* The use of blood collection sets without blood collection adapters is not recommended.

USING NEEDLE AND SYRINGE

Wherever possible. replace conventional needles and syringes with winged blood collection sets. which are safer.

Step 1: Check Patient ID & Prepare Materials
	■ Confirm the patient's identity.
	■ Prepare the collection kit.
	■ Do not inoculate the bottles 1 month prior to the expiration date. ■ Do not use bottles showing signs of damage, deterioration or contamination. ■ Identify the Fill-to Mark or mark the target fill level on the label.
Step 2: Prepare Bottles for Inoculation
	■ Wash hands or use an alcohol hand rub.
	■ Remove the plastic "flip-cap''. ■ Disinfect the bottle septum and allow to dry.
Step 3: Prepare Venipuncture Site
	■ Apply a disposable tourniquet.
	■ Palpate to find a vein. ■ Apply clean examination glove.
	■ Disinfect the skin. ■ Allow the site to air dry.
Step 4: Venipuncture
	■ Attach the needle to a syringe. ■ To prevent contamination, do not re-palpate. ■ Insert the needle into the prepared vein. ■ Collect the sample.
Step 5: Bottle Inoculation
	■ Inoculate the anaerobic bottle first. ■ Hold the bottle upright. ■ Add 10 ml of blood per adult bottle.
	■ Repeat for the aerobic bottle. ■ Add 10 ml of blood per adult bottle. ■ Add up to 4 ml per pediatric bottle.
	■ Ensure the bottle is correctly filled to the Fill-to Mark or target fill level, as shown.
Step 6: Other Blood tests
	■ If collecting blood for additional tests, always collect blood cultures first.
Step 7: Finish the Procedure
	■ Discard the needle and syringe into a sharps container and cover the puncture site. ■ Remove gloves and wash hands
	■ Record collection date, time and site and label bottles according to manufacturer's recommendations. ■ Transport inoculated bottles as quickly as possible to the laboratory for testing.