1. 1-2 blood culture sets (1 venipuncture per set) are adequate for culture of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAI) from patients with AIDS.
2. Specimens should not be drawn through catheters or cannulas.
3. Do not anticoagulate blood.

ADULT ACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN: Blood.
Preferred volume for optimal sensitivity - 15 mL. Specimens are NOT rejected if lower volume of blood collected though the sensitivity of the culture may be jeopardized.

Collect specimen as follows:
1. Throughly cleanse venipuncture site with 2%-4% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% alcohol. Scrub the skin for 15 seconds. Unlike Povidone Iodine (or 2% tincture of iodine), it is not necessary to move in concentric circles to the periphery. Instead, the mechanism of action of chlorhexidine gluconate is based more on friction against the skin.
2. Allow to dry. Do not palpate site after preparation.
3. For adults, draw 15 mL of blood and inject 5 mL into each bottle(s) provided in the blood culture kit.

Follow instructions provided in the collection kit.

PEDIATRIC ACCEPTABLE SPECIMEN: Blood
Preferred volume for optimal sensitivity - 3 mL. Specimens are NOT rejected if lower volume of blood collected though the sensitivity of the culture may be jeopardized.

Collect specimen as follows:
1. Throughly cleanse venipuncture site with 2%-4% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% alcohol. Scrub the skin for 15 seconds. Unlike Povidone Iodine (or 2% tincture of iodine), it is not necessary to move in concentric circles to the periphery. Instead, the mechanism of action of chlorhexidine gluconate is based more on friction against the skin.
2. Allow to dry. Do not palpate site after preparation.

NOTE children <2 months old: Chlorhexidine gluconate is not recommended for use in children <2 months old. Skin of children under 2 months of age is particularly sensitive to irritants. Furthermore, infants may have substantial systemic absorption of alcohol-containing topical solutions.

For children <2 months old, use the following instructions:
Thoroughly cleanse venipuncture site with 70% alcohol, followed by Povidone Iodine (or 2% tincture of iodine), moving in concentric circles to the periphery. Allow to dry. Do not remove iodine. Do not palpate site after preparation.

3. For pediatric patients, draw 1 mL to several mL of blood, depending on size of patient and inject equal volumes into bottle(s) provided in the blood culture collection kit.

Follow instructions provided in the collection kit.

Causes for Rejection:
1. Specimen not labeled with patient's name, MRN, date and time of collection, and collector's initials.

DELIVER BLOOD CULTURE BOTTLES IMMEDIATELY TO MICROBIOLOGY IN A TIGHTLY SEALED CONTAINER WITH NO EXTERNAL SPILLAGE.

SPECIMEN CANNOT BE REFRIGERATED OR FROZEN.

Causes for Rejection:
1. Specimen container leaking.

Used to culture and identify agents of mycobacteremia in patients with disseminated mycobacterial disease.

The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Mycobacteriology Section provides a definitive identification of mycobacteria to the species level and susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates. The most rapid and reliable methods available for detection and identification of mycobacteria are used including Maldi-TOF for identification. Susceptibility testing is not routinely performed on non-tuberculous Mycobacteria.

BACTEC FX Fluorescent Series.

Includes identification, and when appropriate, susceptibility testing at additional charges.

CPT coding cannot be determined before the culture is completed.

Mycobacteria (AFB)/Dimorphic fungi blood kits – White
•	(3) BACTEC Myco/F  Lytic Medium, BD
•	Collection Instruction
•	(1) plastic Ziplock bag with an outer label that includes an expiration date corresponding to item with shortest expiration date included in that bag 
•	(1) biohazard bag for transport to lab after collection
•	(2) alcohol  pads (Clinipad alcohol prep)
•	(1) Chlorascrub Swab stick