Blood Culture Collection Cheatsheet
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This nursing cheatsheet will help you learn about Blood Culture Collection. Blood cultures, a crucial part of diagnosing infections, should be drawn from two different sites, preferably on opposite sides of the body. It’s essential to avoid drawing blood cultures from an existing line unless specifically ordered by a healthcare provider. A critical step in the collection process is scrubbing the site with an antiseptic for a full minute to prevent contamination by skin bacteria. The collection involves using either a butterfly needle or a syringe. When using a butterfly needle, start with the aerobic bottle, and with a syringe, begin with the anaerobic bottle to avoid air contamination. Typically, 5 mL of blood is needed for each bottle, and after collection, the bottles are carefully labeled with patient information, time, date, initials, and collection site. Preliminary results are usually available within 24 hours, with final results in 48-72 hours​​​​​​.