Blood Culture Collection Device Reduces Contamination for Increased Sepsis Testing Accuracy

Blood cultures are considered the gold standard diagnostic test for the detection of blood stream infections, such as sepsis. However, positive blood culture results can be frequently wrong, and about 40% of positive results return a false-positive result owing to contamination. Such false-positive results can cause misdiagnosis of sepsis and expose the patient to unnecessary, prolonged, and harmful broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment and extended length of in-patient hospital stay. Preventing false-positive results and sepsis misdiagnosis has to begin with reducing blood culture contaminations. Now, an innovative blood and bodily fluid collection device designed to facilitate significant improvements in the accuracy, consistency, and predictability of critical laboratory tests could reduce sepsis misdiagnosis.

Magnolia Medical Technologies’ (Seattle, WA, USA) Steripath Micro is the only FDA 510(k)-cleared low-diversion volume device platform specifically indicated to reduce blood culture contamination. Developed in collaboration with clinicians from various hospital settings, Steripath Micro optimizes the blood culture collection process by facilitating quick, easy, and effective diversion and test sample collection. Utilizing the same clinically proven Initial Specimen Diversion Device technology as Magnolia's flagship Steripath Initial Specimen Diversion Devices, the Steripath Micro device family combines a small, highly intuitive design for optimal user experience with the speed of traditional blood culture collection methods.

Steripath Micro employs an active blood culture bottle- or syringe-driven diversion method, diverting the initial 0.5 to 1.0 mL of blood into the diversion chamber to prevent potential contaminants from affecting the test blood sample. After the diversion is complete, the clinician simply presses a button to isolate potential contaminants and automatically open a second, sterile blood flow pathway for collecting the test sample. All Steripath Micro needle configurations integrate the BD Vacutainer UltraTouch push button blood collection set. UltraTouch needles feature an ultra-thin-wall cannula, providing a larger inner diameter while maintaining a true-to-gauge size outer cannula diameter (BD RightGauge Technology). This innovative technology allows for increased sample fill volume to be collected into blood culture bottles by enhancing blood flow rates. Additionally, the BD PentaPoint cannula technology integrated into BD Vacutainer UltraTouch wingsets facilitates easier skin penetration.

"We are delighted to launch the expanded family of Steripath Micro configurations as an integral part of our Initial Specimen Diversion Device portfolio. We developed the Steripath Micro platform in close collaboration with our customers to ensure the ability to provide improved blood culture accuracy for all patient populations, including those that are most vulnerable," said Greg Bullington, CEO of Magnolia Medical. "The availability of these configurations will further accelerate our co-selling and co-marketing activities with BD as all Steripath Micro needle configurations come standard with BD's best-in-class UltraTouch needle innovation.

"This new product offering demonstrates our continued commitment to providing hospitals and healthcare systems with the best possible solutions that optimally balance ease of use and clinical performance to support achievement of CLSI and CDC's new 1% goal for blood culture contamination rates," Bullington concluded.

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