title: Laboratory contamination of blood cultures.
abstract: A prospective study of the use of a laminar flow cabinet, an exhaust-ventilated safety hood, and the open bench for the microbiological examination of blood is described. Blood samples from 1600 patients were subcultured on the open bench, 2700 in a safety hood, and 2607 in a laminar flow cabinet. Use of the laminar flow cabinet produced a significantly greater level of contamination than the other methods, and it is concluded that the exhaust-ventilated safety hood should be used for this procedure.
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D007753:Laboratories