Specimen Requirements

Submit only one of the following

Preferred
Specimen Type: Dialysate, peritoneal, joint, pericardial, others (indicate source)
Container/Tube: BacT/Alert Plus FA (green)
Volume: 10.0mL
Minimum Volume: 8.0mL
Collection Instructions: Do not use expired bottles, or bottles within seven days of the expiry date. Keep BacT/Alert culture bottles at room temperature and in the dark when not in use.

Acceptable
Specimen Type: Indicate source of specimen e.g: PD fluid
Container/Tube: Bottles from other blood culture systems
Volume: According to manufacturer’s instruction.
Minimum Volume: According to manufacturer’s instruction.
Collection Instructions: According to manufacturer’s instruction.

For bottles from other blood culture systems, manual monitoring of bottles will be performed and result reporting will be delayed.

Gram smears will not be done from the BacT/Alert bottles. Please send fluid in a sterile bottle if Gram smear is required.