EYE AND EAR COLLECTION PROCEDURES

Ear

· A swab is not recommended for collecting specimens to diagnose otitis media infections. The specimen of choice is an aspirate from behind the tympanum (eardrum). A small swab may be used only when the eardrum has ruptured and fluid is collected.

· Cleanse the external ear canal with antiseptic solution.

· Collect using established surgical procedures.

· The physician surgically incises the eardrum and collects as much fluid as possible into a syringe or the material may be allowed to collect on a sterile culture swab.

· If using a syringe, remove the needle and cap the syringe before transporting to the laboratory. If using a culture swab, place into anaerobic transport media immediately.

· Transport to the laboratory at room temperature.

Eye If inoculating the sample immediately at the time of collection, please call the laboratory prior to collection to obtain appropriate media.

· Cleanse the skin around the eye with a mild antiseptic.

· Purulent conjunctivitis:

1. Collect purulent material with a sterile culture swab.

2. Place the culture swab into transport media and send to the laboratory at room temperature.

· Corneal infections:

1. Swab the conjunctiva as described above.

2. The physician will have collected multiple corneal scrapings and may inoculate directly onto

agar media. (For bacterial culture: inoculate chocolate and blood agar. For fungal culture:

inoculate Inhibitory mold and Potato flake agar.)

3. Send specimens to the laboratory at room temperature as soon as possible.

· Intraocular fluid:

1. The physician will have collected fluid by surgical needle aspiration.

2. Transport to the laboratory at room temperature as soon as possible.