Specimen Requirements

Submit blood in a 10-mL SPS (sodium polyanethole sulfonate) tube as follows:

1. Vigorously cleanse venipuncture site using ChloraPrep®. Scrub in a back and forth motion for 30 seconds.

2. Allow site to dry. Do not touch site after preparation and prior to venipuncture.

3. Disinfect rubber top of blood culture tube with alcohol and allow to dry.

4. Apply tourniquet, insert needle into vein, and withdraw 8 mL of blood. Do not change needles before injecting blood into the SPS tube.

5. Aseptically inject blood in the SPS tube. Mix well to avoid clotting.

Note:  Collection can be performed by needle and syringe or by using a butterfly with an adaptor for direct inoculation into tube.

6. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), MR# or DOB,  date and actual time of draw, and type of specimen.

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.