What are the Correct Skin Antisepsis Procedures for BC Collection?
Since it only takes a single bacterium to potentially contaminate a BC bottle, it is critical that the skin be decontaminated using the correct antisepsis procedure prior to drawing a BC. BC contaminants are not only clinically confusing, it is also very time consuming and expensive for the laboratory to spend time working up these isolates. After palpation, the venipuncture site should be cleansed with a 70% isopropyl alcohol prep and allowed to dry for 30 seconds. Using a 10% povidone-iodine solution prep, start at the centre of the skin site to be punctured, and swab in a concentric fashion. This disinfectant should be allowed to dry for at least one minute, preferable two minutes, before the blood is drawn. The intended venipuncture site should not be touched unless the gloved fingers used for palpation are similarly disinfected. Residual iodine should be removed from the skin with 70% isopropyl alcohol preps after the venipuncture. The septum of the BC bottles must also be swabbed
