Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:

Arterial line, central venous pressure (CVP), dialysis, intravenous (IV), Swan-Ganz, or Hickman-Broviac catheter

Unacceptable Specimens:
Urinary Foley catheter

Specimen must arrive as soon as possible after collection.

Container/Tube: Sterile container(s)
Specimen Volume: 5 cm to 10 cm of distal tip of catheter

Collection Instructions: Collect specimen as follows:

1. Cleanse skin around catheter with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Allow to dry.

2. Cleanse skin around catheter with iodine. Allow to dry.

3. Aseptically remove catheter being careful to avoid contamination with normal flora from skin or other body surfaces.

4. Aseptically cut off 5 cm to 10 cm of distal tip of catheter (including area directly beneath skin) and place directly into sterile container.

5. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

Note: Specimen source (type of catheter tip) is required.