In 2022, the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) established a best practice goal of 1% blood culture contamination. Having a 1% or lower blood culture contamination rate is crucial as blood culture contamination can lead to false positive results and misdiagnosis, which can be very costly to healthcare facilities. A study found that contaminant results, compared with true-negative results, were associated with a 20% increase in laboratory charges and a 39% increase in intravenous antibiotic charges.¹

Unfortunately, a study by the College of American Pathologists found that out of 640 U.S. healthcare institutions the median adult inpatient contamination rate was 2.5%, while for other organizations, more than 5.0% of their blood cultures were contaminated.¹

Education emphasizing best practice techniques alone will not achieve this new goal without added control measures, such as blood sampling Sequestration (Diversion) support.

Blood Culture Collection Diversion Solutions By C-Quest Medical

The Sequestration Syringe Blood Culture Diversion Collection Device with proprietary initial specimen diversion technology is setting new standards in blood culture collection. Available at half the cost of competitive devices, the Sequestration Syringe is an easy-to-use way to achieve accurate blood culture results and reduce false positive rates.

The Sequestration Syringe features a proprietary Unidirectional Check Valve that automatically diverts and sequesters the initial 1.5mL of blood. The valve assures that blood can only flow in one direction, to prohibit sequestered blood from contaminating the culture. Unlike unfamiliar and costly diversion alternatives, the Sequestration Syringe features a familiar, clinician-friendly syringe design that requires virtually no training. This results in greater efficiency and cost savings while promoting standardization for rapid, accurate blood culture collection procedures throughout the hospital.

Each Sequestration Syringe is packaged with a complete C-Quest Blood Culture Collection Kit, including a sterile initial specimen diversion tube. The kit contains everything needed for pre-collection, collection, and post-collection applications – all in one place, saving clinicians time and enhancing process improvement and compliance.

Features and Benefits

• Proprietary “T” Valve and Unidirectional Check Valve can be used for either venipuncture or IV draw

• Unidirectional Check Valve diverts and sequesters initial 1.5mL flash of blood

• Improves clinical outcomes

• Enhances proper patient diagnosis and treatment

• Reduces antibiotic use and length of hospital stay

• Clinician-friendly, intuitive design is easy to use

• Requires minimal in-service training

• Packaged with a Procedure Kit which includes everything needed for pre-collection, collection, and post-collection

• FDA 510(k) Clearance

For more information about the Sequestration Syringe or to request a demonstration, call 888-891-1200 or email us to be connected to a local representative.

MED Alliance Group is a medical device distributor that has been meeting the needs of our clinical customers and manufacturing partners since 1998. We specialize in the sales, marketing, importation, logistics and distribution of innovative, high-quality and cost-effective products found in anesthesia and respiratory, blood and transfusion therapy, EMS and emergency room, interventional radiology and cath lab, iv and vascular, NICU/PICU and pharmacy.

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References:

¹Hall, Keri K, and Jason A Lyman. “Updated Review of Blood Culture Contamination.” Clinical Microbiology Reviews, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1592696/.