Culture, Ear

If culture is positive, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility will be performed at an additional charge. For diagnostic purposes, clinical specimens should be collected before the initiation of therapy since even a few days of treatment may render the culture negative. Day(s) Test Set Up: Monday through Sunday

EAR

Submit only 1 of the following specimens: Collect specimen using a swab transport system as follows: External 1. Cleanse external canal with mild antiseptic. 2. Swab, scrape or aspirate specimen from active margin, preferably including fresh secretion from deeper areas. 3. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing. Internal 1. Cleanse external canal with mild antiseptic. 2. Insert sterile funnel and swab or aspirate specimen from eardrum or beyond. 3. If eardrum is not perforated, specimen should be collected by a physician trained in this procedure. 4. Cultures from the mastoid area should be transported anaerobically using the anaerobic transport system. 5. Place swab in a sterile culture transport tube. Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Red or green capped culture transport device

Useful for the detection of potential aerobic pathogens of the ear.