Kurin Reference List
* The Kurin Blood Collection System is for use as a blood collection system and its Kurin Lock allows the specimen of blood from the patient to be sidelined prior to the collection of the test sample to reduce the frequency of blood culture contamination when contaminates are present in the initial blood sample compared to blood cultures drawn using standard practice without the Kurin Lock. FDA 510(k) K220667
1 Fingar K, Washington R. Trends in Hospital Readmissions for Four High-Volume Conditions, 2009–2013. In: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Briefs. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); November 2015.
2 Zwang O, Albert RK. Analysis of strategies to improve cost effectiveness of blood cultures. J Hosp Med. 2006;1(5):272-276. doi:10.1002/jhm.115
3 Garcia RA, Spitzer ED, Beaudry J, et al. Multidisciplinary team review of best practices for collection and handling of blood cultures to determine effective interventions for increasing the yield of true-positive bacteremias, reducing contamination, and eliminating false-positive central line-associated bloodstream infections. Am J Infect Control. 2015;43(11):1222-1237. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.06.030
4 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Principles and Procedures for Blood Cultures: Approved Guideline. CLSI document M47-A. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2007.
5 Bekeris LG, Tworek JA, Walsh MK, Valenstein PN. Trends in blood culture contamination: a College of American Pathologists Q-Tracks study of 356 institutions. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005;129(10):1222-1225. doi:10.5858/2005-129-1222-TIBCCA
6 Partnership for Quality Measurement (PQM). Adult Blood Culture Contamination Rate: A National Measure and Standard for Clinical Laboratories and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs. Partnership for Quality Measurement, 2023. Available at: https://www.preventionstrategist-digital.com/apiq/0125_spring_2025/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=2057489#articleId2057489
7 Davis KA, Painter J, Lakkad M, Dare RK. 2014. Assessment of Cost, Morbidity, and Mortality Associated with Blood Culture Contamination. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019;6(Suppl 2):S676. Published 2019 Oct 23. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1694
8 Rupp ME, Cavalieri RJ, Marolf C, Lyden E. Reduction in Blood Culture Contamination Through Use of Initial Specimen Diversion Device. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(2):201-205. doi:10.1093/cid/cix304
9 Skoglund E, Dempsey CJ, Chen H, Garey KW. Estimated Clinical and Economic Impact through Use of a Novel Blood Collection Device to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department: a Cost-Benefit Analysis. J Clin Microbiol. 2019;57(1):e01015-18. doi:10.1128/JCM.01015-18
10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2019. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-resistance/media/pdfs/2019-ar-threats-report-508.pdf
11 Schifman RB, Strand CL, Meier FA, Howanitz PJ. Blood culture contamination: a College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study involving 640 institutions and 497134 specimens from adult patients. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1998;122(3):216-221.
12 Navas ME, Siddiq S, Bauer L, et al. Do blood contamination reduction devices work? A single institution comparison. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2024 Nov 25:1-3. doi:10.1017/ice.2024.169
13 Arenas M, Boseman GM, Coppin JD, Lukey J, Jinadatha C, Navarathna DH. Asynchronous Testing of 2 Specimen-Diversion Devices to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination: A Single-Site Product Supply Quality Improvement Project. J Emerg Nurs. 2021;47(2):256-264.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2020.11.008
14 Doern GV, Carroll KC, Diekema DJ, et al. Practical Guidance for Clinical Microbiology Laboratories: A Comprehensive Update on the Problem of Blood Culture Contamination and a Discussion of Methods for Addressing the Problem. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2019;33(1):e00009-19. doi:10.1128/CMR.00009-19
15 Karlath FA, Rehan MA, Geigor A, et al. Retrospective Analysis of the Clinical Significance of Positive Blood Cultures in the Emergency Department: A Single-Center Study. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(7):ofaf352. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaf352
16 Ostwald C and Whitsell K. Reduction of False Positive Blood Culture Rates using a Passive Blood Diversion Device in an Urban Academic Pediatric Emergency Department. Poster Presentation, APIC 2021
17 Biddle S, Whitis J. Reducing Blood Culture Contamination Rates Below 1%: A Strategic Approach. Clin Nurse Spec. 2025;39(4):192-194. doi:10.1097/NUR.0000000000000903
18 Navarathna D, Lukey J. Impact of Initial Specimen Diversion Technique on Blood Culture Contamination Rates. Fed Pract. 2025;42(6):1-5. doi:10.12788/fp.0596
19 Browne E, Russell M, Kalukondanahally G, O Keane MA, and McDermott H. Reducing the Blood Culture Contamination Rate in the Emergency Department: A Good Start. Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Poster #P1939: Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. April 2025.
20 Le P, Smith A, Pazhayattil J, Walters R, and Cavalieri S. 1804 Effect of Initial Specimen Diversion Device (Kurin®) on Blood Culture Contamination Rates. Laboratory Investigation. 2025;105(3):104050. doi: 10.1016/j.labinv.2024.104050
21 Arnaout S, Stock S, Clifford JM, et al. Prospective Trial of a Passive Diversion Device to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024;12(1):ofae751. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae751
22 Touzard Romo F, Auld D, de Abreu A, et al. Implementation of an initial specimen blood culture diversion device to reduce blood culture contamination: lessons learned. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2025;46(1):108-109. doi:10.1017/ice.2024.152
23 Raouf Z. #52 Beyond the needle: innovative approaches for reducing blood culture contamination rates in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Journal 2024;41:A11-A12.
24 O’Sullivan DM and Steere L. Reducing False-Positive Blood Cultures: Using a Blood Diversion Device. Connecticut Medicine. 2019;83(2): 53-56.
25 Rhew D, Childress W. Decreasing Blood Culture Contamination Rates When Using an Initial Peripheral IV: Implementing the 5s P’s and Using a Closed System Device. Nur Primary Care. 2021; 5(3): 1-6.
26 Burnie J, Vining S. Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice: Impact on Emergency Department Blood Culture Contamination. Clin Nurse Spec. 2021;35(6):314-317. doi:10.1097/NUR.0000000000000634
27 Hodson J, Stebbing J, Graham C and O’ Donnell S. Reducing False-Positive Blood Cultures in Adult A&E using an Initial Specimen Diversion Device. Poster: Infection Prevention Society Conference, Liverpool, England, 2021.
28 Baxter M, Cook C and James A. Passive Engineering Controls Result in Sustained 66% Reduction in Blood Culture Contamination. Poster: Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections, 2020.
29 Sutton J, Fritsch P, Moody M, Dinaro K, Holder C. Preventing Blood Culture Contamination using a Novel Engineered Passive Blood Diversion Device. Poster: APIC 2018.
30 Top Scoring Abstracts From the 2018 National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Annual Conference: Not Your “Average” ED: A CNS-Led Project That Reduced Blood Culture Contaminations in One Emergency Department to Below Expected Levels. (Allain M.) Clinical Nurse Specialist. 32(3):E1-E4, May/June 2018.
31 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blood Culture Contamination: An Overview for Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs Working with the Clinical Laboratory. US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2022. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/core-elements/pdfs/fs-bloodculture-508.pdf
32 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Adult Blood Culture Contamination: A Quality Tool for Clinical Laboratory Professionals. Atlanta, GA: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2023. Available at: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/177096
33 Bunn JD, Cornish NE. Blood Culture Contamination and Diagnostic Stewardship: From a Clinical Laboratory Quality Monitor to a National Patient Safety Measure. J Appl Lab Med. 2025;10(1):162-170. doi:10.1093/jalm/jfae132
34 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Regulatory Provisions to Promote Program Efficiency, Transparency, and Burden Reduction; Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Dialysis Facilities; Hospital and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Changes to Promote Innovation, Flexibility, and Improvement in Patient Care. Fed Regist. 2018;83(195):47686-47762.
35 Wilson ML, ed. Principles and procedures for blood cultures: approved guideline. 2nd Edition. Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute, 2022. ISBN, 1684401488, 9781684401482
36 Nickel B, Gorski L, Kleidon T, et al. Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice, 9th Edition. J Infus Nurs. 2024;47(1S Suppl 1):S1-S285. doi:10.1097/NAN.0000000000000532
37 Miller JM, Binnicker MJ, Campbell S, et al. Guide to Utilization of the Microbiology Laboratory for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases: 2024 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Clin Infect Dis. 2024. doi:10.1093/cid/ciae104
38 Sautter RL, Parrott JS, Nachamkin I, et al. American Society for Microbiology evidence-based laboratory medicine practice guidelines to reduce blood culture contamination rates: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2024;37(4):e0008724. doi:10.1128/cmr.00087-24
39 Palavecino EL, Campodónico VL, She RC. Laboratory approaches to determining blood culture contamination rates: an ASM Laboratory Practices Subcommittee report. J Clin Microbiol. 2024;62(2):e0102823. doi:10.1128/jcm.01028-23
40 Clinical Practice Guideline: Prevention of Blood Culture Contamination. J Emerg Nurs. 2018;44(3):285.e1-285.e24. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2018.03.019
41 College of American Pathologists. Laboratory Accreditation Program: Microbiology Checklist (MIC.22630), Q-Tracks. Northfield, IL: College of American Pathologists; 2018.
42 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Medical technologies guidance: Kurin Lock for blood culture collection (Reference number: MTG77) United Kingdom. 2024
43 Weinstein MP, Reller LB, Murphy JR, Lichtenstein KA. The clinical significance of positive blood cultures: a comprehensive analysis of 500 episodes of bacteremia and fungemia in adults. I. Laboratory and epidemiologic observations. Rev Infect Dis. 1983;5(1):35-53. doi:10.1093/clinids/5.1.35
44 Mermel LA, Allon M, Bouza E, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of intravascular catheter-related infection: 2009 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2009;49(1):1-45. doi:10.1086/599376
45 Fabre V, Carroll KC, Cosgrove SE. Blood Culture Utilization in the Hospital Setting: a Call for Diagnostic Stewardship. J Clin Microbiol. 2022;60(3):e0100521. doi:10.1128/JCM.01005-21
46 Weinstein MP. Blood culture contamination: persisting problems and partial progress. J. Clin Microbiol 2003;41:2275–2278. doi:10.1128/JCM.41.6.2275-2278.2003
47 Hall KK and Lyman JA. Updated review of blood culture contamination. Clin Microbiol Rev 2006;19:788–802. doi:10.1128/CMR.00062-05
48 Doern GV, Carroll KC, Diekema DJ, et al. A comprehensive update on the problem of blood culture contamination and a discussion of methods for addressing the problem. Clin Microbiol Rev 2020;33:1–21. doi:10.1128/CMR.00009-19
49 Talbot T, Tompkins L, DeBaun B. The Impact and Prevention of False Positive CLABSIs. Webinar. American Hospital Association. 2019. Available at: https://www.aha.org/education-events/impact-and-prevention-false-positive-clabsis
50 National Quality Forum (NQF). Hospital Onset-Bacteremia and Fungemia Playbook. Washington, DC: NQF, 2024. Available at: https://digitalassets.jointcommission.org/api/public/content/5cc1eb128c3240da9cc172d5571267f4?v=ce452aec
51 Alahmadi YM, Aldeyab MA, McElnay JC, Scott MG, Darwish Elhajji FW, Magee FA, Dowds M, Edwards C, Fullerton L, Tate A, Kearney MP. 2011. Clinical and economic impact of contaminated blood cultures within the hospital setting. J Hosp Infect 77:233–236. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2010.09.033
52 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (MILCON-VA Act), H.R. 4355, 117th Congress (2022)
53 Dunne, WM, Nolte FS, and Wilson ML. Cumitech IB, Blood cultures III. Coordinating ed., J. A. Hindler. ASM Press, Washington, DC. 1997.
54 Murillo TA, Beavers-May TK, English D, Plummer V, Stovall SH. Reducing contamination of peripheral blood cultures in a pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2011;27(10):918-921. doi:10.1097/PEC.0b013e318230285b
55 Mullan PC, Scott S, Chamberlain JM, et al. Decreasing Blood Culture Contaminants in a Pediatric Emergency Department: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2018;3(5):e104. doi:10.1097/pq9.0000000000000104
56 Klucher JM, Davis K, Lakkad M, Painter JT, Dare RK. Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with blood culture contamination. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2022;43(3):291-297. doi:10.1017/ice.2021.111
57 Liaquat S, Baccaglini L, Haynatzki G, Medcalf SJ, Rupp ME. Clinical consequences of contaminated blood cultures in adult hospitalized patients at an institution utilizing a rapid blood-culture identification system. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;42(8):978-984. doi:10.1017/ice.2020.1337
58 Skoglund E, Dempsey CJ, Chen H, Garey KW. Estimated Clinical and Economic Impact through Use of a Novel Blood Collection Device to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department: a Cost-Benefit Analysis. J Clin Microbiol; 2020(57): e01015-18. doi:10.1128/JCM.01015-18
59 Al Mohajer M, Lasco T. The Impact of Initial Specimen Diversion Systems on Blood Culture Contamination. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2023;10(5):ofad182. Published 2023 Apr 5. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofad182
60 Salcedo DT, Powell EA, Smulian AG, Powers-Fletcher MV. Actual Clinical Practice Related to Contaminated Blood Cultures May Limit the Cost Savings Associated with Interventions to Reduce Contamination Rates. J Clin Microbiol. 2020;58(4):e01796-19. Published 2020 Mar 25. doi:10.1128/JCM.01796-19
61 Gander RM, Byrd L, DeCrescenzo M, Hirany S, Bowen M, Baughman J. Impact of blood cultures drawn by phlebotomy on contamination rates and health care costs in a hospital emergency department. J Clin Microbiol. 2009;47(4):1021-1024. doi:10.1128/JCM.02162-08
62 Story-Roller E, Weinstein MP. Chlorhexidine versus Tincture of Iodine for Reduction of Blood Culture Contamination Rates: A Prospective Randomized Crossover Study. J Clin Microbiol. 2016;54(12):3007-3009. doi:10.1128/JCM.01457-16
63 Snyder SR, Favoretto AM, Baetz RA, et al. Effectiveness of practices to reduce blood culture contamination: a Laboratory Medicine Best Practices systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Biochem. 2012;45(13-14):999-1011. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2012.06.007
64 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Premarket Notification: Kurin Blood Culture Collection Set with Kurin Lock Technology. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K220677
65 Patton RG, Schmitt T. Innovation for reducing blood culture contamination: initial specimen diversion technique. J Clin Microbiol. 2010;48(12):4501-4503. doi:10.1128/JCM.00910-10
66 Liumbruno GM, Catalano L, Piccinini V, Pupella S, Grazzini G. Reduction of the risk of bacterial contamination of blood components through diversion of the first part of the donation of blood and blood components. Blood Transfus. 2009;7(2):86-93. doi:10.2450/2008.0026-08
67 McDonald, CP. Bacterial risk reduction by improved donor arm disinfection, diversion and bacterial screening. Transfusion Medicine; 2006(16): 381-396. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3148.2006.00697.x
68 Lee A, Mirrett S, Reller LB, Weinstein MP. Detection of bloodstream infections in adults: how many blood cultures are needed? J Clin Microbiol. 2007;45(11):3546-3548. doi:10.1128/JCM.01555-07
69 Baddour LM, Wilson WR, Bayer AS, et al. Infective Endocarditis in Adults: Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Management of Complications: A Scientific Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;132(15):1435-1486. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000296
70 O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(9):e162-e193. doi:10.1093/cid/cir257
71 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2025 NHSN Laboratory Confirmed Bloodstream Infection (LCBI) Checklist. Blood Specimen Collection. Page 7. January 2025. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/checklists/2025-NHSN-Laboratory-Confirmed-Bloodstream-Infection-LCBI-Checklist.pdf
72 Dwivedi S, Bhalla R, Hoover DR, Weinstein MP. Discarding the initial aliquot of blood does not reduce contamination rates in intravenous-catheter-drawn blood cultures. J Clin Microbiol. 2009;47(9):2950-2951. doi:10.1128/JCM.00292-09
73 Patton RG, Schmitt T. Innovation for reducing blood culture contamination: initial specimen diversion technique. J Clin Microbiol. 2010;48(12):4501-3. doi:10.1128/JCM.00910-10
74 Zimmerman FS, Karameh H, Ben-Chetrit E, Zalut T, Assous M, Levin PD. Modification of blood test draw order to reduce blood culture contamination: a randomized clinical trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(5):1215-1220. doi:10.1093/cid/ciz971
75 Binkhamis K, Forward K. Effect of the initial specimen diversion technique on blood culture contamination rates. J Clin Microbiol. 2014;52(3):980-1. doi:10.1128/JCM.02773-13
76 Febres-Aldana A, Ashley P, Amenta E, et al. Comparing the effects of two initial specimen diversion techniques on blood culture contamination rates and clinical outcomes-a multicenter study. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2024;4(1):e194. Published 2024 Nov 11. doi:10.1017/ash.2024.391
77 Buzard BA, Evans P, Schroeder T. Evaluation of an Initial Specimen Diversion Device (ISDD) on Rates of Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department. Kans J Med. 2021;14(1):73-76. Published 2021 Mar 19. doi:10.17161/kjm.vol1413804
78 Fu Y, Luo Y, Grinspan AM. Epidemiology of community-acquired and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2021;14:17562848211016248. Published 2021 May 22. doi:10.1177/17562848211016248
79 Haiduven D, Applegarth S, Shroff M. An experimental method for detecting blood splatter from retractable phlebotomy and intravascular devices. Am J Infect Control. 2009;37(2):127-130. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2008.03.004
80 Haiduven DJ, McGuire-Wolfe C, Applegarth SP. Contribution of a winged phlebotomy device design to blood splatter. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012;33(11):1069-1076. doi:10.1086/668030
81 PR Newswire. The Harris Poll. New survey reveals patients receive too many needlesticks. February 29, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-survey-reveals-patients-receive-too-many-needlesticks-302100081.html
82 Garcia RA, Spitzer ED, Kranz B, Barnes S. A national survey of interventions and practices in the prevention of blood culture contamination and associated adverse health care events. Am J Infect Control. 2018 May;46(5):571-576. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.11.009
83 Tompkins LS, Tien V, Madison AN. Getting to zero: Impact of a device to reduce blood culture contamination and false-positive central-line-associated bloodstream infections. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2023;44(9):1386-1390. doi:10.1017/ice.2022.284
84 Dempsey C, Skoglund E, Muldrew KL, Garey KW.4 Economic health care costs of blood culture contamination: A systematic review. Am J Infect Control. 2019;47(8):963-967. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2018.12.020
85 Ortiz-Soriano V, Donaldson K, Du G, Li Y, Lambert J, Rudy M, Cleland D, Thornton A, Fanucchi LC, Huaman MA, et al. Incidence and Cost of Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients with Infective Endocarditis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2019; 8(7):927. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8070927
86 Mishra S, Valdez M, Mejia D, et al. P-1898. Reduction of Blood Culture Contamination Rates and Associated Healthcare Costs Through Implementation of Certified Phlebotomist-Drawn Blood Cultures at a Community Teaching Hospital. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(Suppl 1):ofae631.2059. Published 2025 Jan 29. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofae631.2059
87 KFF.org. Hospital Expenses per Adjusted Inpatient Day. (Based on 1999 - 2024 AHA Annual Survey, Copyright 2024 by Health Forum, LLC). Accessed on March 24, 2026 at https://www.kff.org/health-costs/state-indicator/expenses-per-inpatient-day/
88 Evert L and Nielson T. Improving Blood Culture Contamination in an Adult Emergency Department Utilizing Sideline Technology. 2025
89 Kastner K and Beach M. <1% Blood Culture Contamination Rate.
90 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHSN Device-associated Module BSI. Bloodstream Infection Event (Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection and Non-central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection) January 2025. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/pscmanual/4psc_clabscurrent.pdf