Abstract: A venting device is provided for venting the interior of a blood culture bottle by passing the tip of a hollow needle through a sealing stopper of the bottle. The device includes a collapsible shield for shielding the needle, a needle support in the vicinity of one end of the shield for holding the needle and incorporating a vent passage providing fluid communication between the hollow interior of the needle and the atmosphere, and a detachable sterilizing cap on the other end of the shield. The two ends of the shield are reciprocable relative to one another in the direction of the length of the needle against the action of a compression spring. Venting of the bottle is effected by placing the end of the shield against the sealing stopper with the shield in an extended condition, and applying pressure to the device in a direction towards the sealing stopper.