Question

A phlebotomist is performing 2 sets of blood cultures for a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

a. collect both sets from the same site after waiting 4 hrs.
b. collect one set from the antecubital region and one from the ventral part of the patients hand
c. collect one set from the patients left arm and one from a different site on the same arm
d. collect one set from the capillary region and one from the antecubital region

Answer 1

The phlebotomist should collect each set of blood cultures from different sites on the patient's arms, not from the same site or by using capillary samples.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a phlebotomist is performing two sets of blood cultures for a patient, the correct procedure is to collect each set from different sites. This is because using different sites can reduce the risk of contamination and provide a more accurate representation of any bacteria or fungi that may be present in the bloodstream. Therefore, the technician should collect one set from the patient's left arm and one from a different site on the same arm, or from another arm, but not from the same exact site or from capillary samples when multiple sets of blood cultures are required.