The single venipuncture, two-set sampling method for blood cultures in Japan.

Abstract

Objectives: Reported advantages of the single-venipuncture, two-set sampling method (single sampling) for blood cultures include improved microbial detection sensitivity and a reduction of contamination rates, and puncture discomfort.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study investigated the outcome of converting from the multi-sampling to the single-sampling method. The multi-sampling method was employed from January 1, 2023, to June 31, 2024, and the single-sampling method was employed from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. The number of blood cultures submitted, two-set sampling rate, contamination rates, and antimicrobial use density (AUD) and days of therapy (DOT) of vancomycin (VCM) during these two periods were compared.

Results: The average number of blood culture bottles per 1000 patient-days and two-set sampling rate (%) per month were significantly higher in the single-sampling method (76.93 and 75.6%) than in the multi-sampling method (70.81 and 72.4%, P < 0.05). The contamination rate decreased significantly from 0.56% in multi-sampling method to 0.38% in the single-sampling method (P < 0.05). The AUD and DOT of VCM decreased from 1.27 to 1.00 and from 1.80 to 1.33, respectively (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Use of the single-sampling method resulted in increased bottles and two-set rates, with decreased contamination rates and VCM administration.