| Alcohol is the preferred skin preparation for immunizations and venipuncture for blood collection. |
| Eleven apparently healthy individuals gave informed consent to have a blood sample collected by venipuncture. |
| In a separate set of experiments, heparinized peripheral blood from three healthy male donors was used immediately after venipuncture. |
| At least two blood cultures were performed from independent venipunctures in each newly admitted patient. |
| Consent to use 1.5 ml of blood for the study was obtained on a verbal basis as blood was drawn upon clinically indicated venipunctures only. |
| Excessive venipunctures are a significant problem both in emergency rooms and during hospital stays. |
