Blood culture techniques???

[BeenThereDoneThat74]

I'm currently per-diem at 2 places, which have different protocols regarding blood cultures: At one place, we use "clean technique", (clean gloves, wipe the port w/ alcohol, draw blood into syringe (or into bottle via vacutainer). The other place requires that we use "sterile technique" (sterlie gloves, three wipes of betadine on the port, and the rest is the same). I am referring only to CENTRAL LINE CULTURES, not regular bloods, dressing changes or peripheral cultures.

I am quite interested as to what people are doing, as I am about to start a new job, and I know this will come up.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

i agree that you should check with the hospitals p and p.

duhhhhh!!! :chuckle :chuckle (not to be rude or anything, but i was curious as to what other institutions do, not what should i do!!!)

[memphispanda, RN]

Uhh...I think the "lowly med tech" comment was directed at the attitude the MDs have towards the med techs and others--as in they aren't even important enough to bother remembering their names, etc. Not that the OP of that comment thought the med techs were less important.