A. Special Materials
1. 1.5ml Isolator Tube (s): 1 for peripheral specimen, 1 for each line/port to be sampled
2. Needle with holder and syringe (s) NOTE: butterfly draws are not
recommended because blood clotting may be initiated prior to entry
into the tube.
3. Two Blood culture prep applicator with sponge (includes one ChloraPrep One-Step Frep tm device)
4. One 70% alcohol prep pad for each 1.5ml Isolator Tube
B. 1.5ML Isolator Tube Preparation
1. Attach the patient label over the paper label of each tube and
clearly label the site to be sampled on each tube.
2. Wipe the yellow-colored stopper top of each tube with Blood culture prep applicator to achieve surface sterilization.
a. ChloraPrep One-Step Frepp tm
1) Remove Frepp tm from package. Hold the applicator with
2) sponge facing downwards and gentlly squeeze wings, releasing solution for a controlled flow.
3) Place sponge on the top of each tube and depress once or twice to saturate sponge.
4) Wipe the surface of each tube to be used with the Frepp.
5) Allow the tube tops to dry for approximately 30 seconds.
C. Skin Preparation and Specimen Collection/Inoculation
1. ChloraPrep One-Step Frepp tm
a. Locate the vein to be used.
b. Remove Frepp tm from package. Hold the applicator with sponge facing downwards and gentlly squeeze wings, releasing solution for a controlled flow.
c. Place the sponge on selected venipuncture site and depress once or twice to saturate sponge.
d. Use a back-and-forth friction scrub for at least 30 seconds.
e. Allow area prepared to dry for approximately 30 seconds.
f. Proceed with collection of blood.
Do not wipe off - if you do, you have then contaminated the site.
3. Maintain a "hands-off" technique.
If you need to touch sterilized site, you must prep your gloved finger in the same manner with fresh prep pads and only palpate above and below needle insertion site.
4. Collect a peripheral sample using the 1.5mL Isolator tube. After
removal of the needle from the tube, immediately mix the blood with
the contents of the tube by gently inverting four or five times.
Note: A peripheral specimen must be obtained at the same time (within 30 minutes) the line/port samples are collected.
5. Collect a sample from each line or port using a 1.5mL Isolator tube for each sample.
After removal of the needle from the tube,
immediately mix the blood with the contents of the tube by gently
inverting four or five times.
6. Dispose of the used needle and adapter/syringe in needle disposal unit and all contaminated materials properly.
7. Use a 70% alcohol prep pad to remove any blood from the yellow-
stoppered top of each tube.
8. Effect hemostasis in the patient at the venipuncture site in the usual
manner.
9. Properly label each 1.5mL Isolator tube with the patient's name, DOB/SS#, your initials, time and date and the site of collection.
10. The tubes should be transported at room temperature to the laboratory immediately as they must be processed within four (4) hours.
