title: Effect of the initial specimen diversion technique on blood culture contamination rates.
abstract: The initial specimen diversion technique (ISDT) was first described by Patton and Schmitt (J. Clin. Microbiol. 48:4501-4503, 2010, doi:10.1128/JCM.00910-10). This study looked at the effect of implementation of the ISDT on blood culture contamination rates at our center. We found a reduction of 30.34% in potential blood culture contaminants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Capital District Health Authority (CDHA), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Khalifa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Binkhamis
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forward
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*