Two blood culture sets from different anatomic sites should be submitted to detect suspected bacteremia or fungemia. Draw blood before initiating antibiotic therapy if possible. Invert BacT/Alert bottle to mix with blood and broth thoroughly. Do not refrigerate. For optimum recovery, send immediately or store BacT/Alert bottle at room temperature and send within 18-24 hrs. A maximum of 3 blood culture sets will be accepted within a 24 hr period. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified before disposal of the original specimen. Collection: Clean venipuncture site with soap and water if soiled. Wipe with 70% alcohol and allow to dry. Place swab containing an iodoform solution on the venipuncture site and apply in overlapping circles peripherally to obtain a diameter of 4 inches. Allow to dry 2 minutes before performing venipuncture. Do not palpate venipuncture site after preparation. If the patient is sensitive to iodine, alcohol alone may be used. Draw required amount of blood into syringe and transfer to blood culture set. To inoculate bottles, remove protective top from bottle, swab with 70% alcohol and air dry before puncturing. Do not add air to bottles. Label each bottle individually with patient's name, registration number and anatomic site of blood draw. Please do not put label on bottom of bottles or across two bottles since this interferes with loading bottles on the instrument. Additional Instructions:1. Fever of undetermined origin: obtain 2 separate blood cultures initially and 2 more 24-36 hrs later collected 1 hr before the expected temperature elevation. 2. Acute endocarditis: obtain three separate blood cultures during the first 1-2 hrs of evaluation and begin therapy. 3. Subacute endocarditis: obtain 3 blood cultures on day 1. If all are negative 24 hrs later, obtain 3 more. 4. Filamentous fungus (e.g., Histoplasma or Aspergillus sp.) suspected: send isolator tube for fungus blood culture (Blood Culture, Fungus). 5. Mycobacterium sp. suspected: send ia BacT/Alert MB bottle for an AFB blood culture (Blood Culture, AFB). 6. Quantitative culture for bacteria required: see Blood Culture, Quantitative.