Step 1:
Obtain one VersaTREK REDOX 1 EZ Draw 40 ml w/stir bar (Purple/Aerobic) and one VersaTREK REDOX 2 EZ Draw 40 ml (Red/Anaerobic) from the Pharmacy.
Step 2:
Label the bottles with patient identifiers (name, medical record number, date and time drawn) – DO NOT BLOCK THE BAR CODE ON THE BOTTLE.
Step 3:
Prepare the venipuncture site as per usual for blood cultures.
Step 4:
Prepare the blood culture bottles by disinfecting the visible part of the rubber stopper with 70% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol and allow to dry. Place in a clean area.
Step 5:
Using a needle and syringe draw a total of 10 mL of patient’s blood (maximum of 5 mL each for one aerobic and one anaerobic bottle). See the Low Volume Distribution Scheme (Step 8) if you cannot obtain 10 mL of blood.
Step 6:
Dispose of the needle in an appropriate sharps container and attach a sterile needle to the syringe.
Step 7:
Transfer the blood obtained from the patient immediately into the prepared bottles under aseptic conditions (half of the amount obtained into each bottle), inserting the needle at a right angle in the center of the rubber septum.
HELPFUL HINT: always inoculate the REDOX 1(Purple/Aerobic) bottle first.
Step 8:
Low Volume Distribution Scheme
If you cannot obtain 10 mL of blood, divide the blood as follows:
● >1 mL: divide equally between both the REDOX 1 (Purple/Aerobic) and REDOX 2 (Red/Anaerobic) bottles
● <1 mL but >0.5 mL: place 0.5 mL in REDOX 1 (Purple/Aerobic) bottle and the remainder in the REDOX 2 (Red/Anaerobic) bottle.
● <0.5 mL: put the entire specimen in the REDOX 1 (Purple/Aerobic) bottle.
Step 9:
Mix contents of each inoculated bottle 4 or 5 times by gentle inversion so the blood is dispersed evenly throughout the medium. NOTE: There is NO venting of the aerobic bottle using this method.
Step 10:
Leave the blood culture bottles AT ROOM TEMP in the After Hours Clin Path lab and place the appropriate paperwork in the designated place.
****NEVER REFRIGERATE OR INCUBATE****