Collecting Blood: Blood Cultures

Additional tips continued

  • Good sterilization is the key to avoiding contaminates:
  • Let the iodine dry before drawing the blood.
  • Be sure to wipe your gloved finger with iodine if palpation is necessary after cleaning.
  • Always remove iodine from blood culture bottle with alcohol to prevent iodine from “sterilizing” the culture, and causing a false negative result.

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