SUMMARY In this review, we present a comprehensive discussion of matters related to the problem of blood culture contamination. Issues addressed includethe scope and magnitude of the problem, the bacteria most often recognized ascontaminants, the impact of blood culture contamination on clinical microbiology laboratory function, the economic and clinical ramifications of contamination, and, perhaps most importantly, a systematic discussion of solutions to theproblem. We conclude by providing a series of unanswered questions that pertain to this important issue