Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube: BACT/Alert bottles are the ONLY acceptable specimen type.

Adult: BACT/ALERT FA Plus (green top) aerobic bottle AND BACT/ALERT SN (purple top) bottle

Pediatric (<12yrs old): BACT/ALERT PF Plus (yellow top) bottle

Minimum Volume: Adult: 5ml per bottle (8-10ml each bottle (Total 16-20ml)  preferred)

                                 Pediatric (<12yrs old): 0.5-4ml each bottle 

Collection Instructions: Wipe the stoppers of the aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles with 70% alcohol and allow to dry. Follow blood culture collection protocol. Place blood in a green (aerobic) bottle if quantity is not sufficient for complete set.