Specimen Requirements
Offsite Collection Instructions
Collect whole blood in Isolator tube available from MLabs: if venipuncture site is soiled, clean with soap and water, wipe with 70% alcohol and allow to air dry. Swab skin over the site of venipuncture with iodoform solution for 1 minute in a 2 inch circular area around vein to be used, using vigorous strokes and working from the center to the periphery. Use of a 2% iodine preparation is contraindicated in patients sensitive to iodine. Alcohol alone may be used. Allow to dry 2 minutes before performing venipuncture. Do not palpitate venipuncture site after preparation. Draw required amount of blood into syringe, and transfer to Isolator tube. After collecting specimen, mix tube contents well to lyse blood cells and prevent clotting. Do not refrigerate or incubate; store and transport at room temperature. For optimum recovery, send directly to the laboratory; Isolator may be stored up to 16 hours. Label tube with culture number or anatomic site if more that one culture is drawn at one time. Indicate specimen source, collection date/time, current antibiotic or antifungal therapy, and clinical diagnosis. If an unacceptable specimen is received, the client will be notified before disposal of the original specimen.
Container
Normal Volume
6-10 mL in an adult Isolator tube
Minimum Volume
0.5-1.5 mL in a pediatric Isolator tube