Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Internal

1. Cleanse external ear 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. Place swab in sterile tube.
5. Label tube with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen (left or right ear).
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Avoid topical ointments or drugs in or on site to be cultured.

2. See “Microbiology” in “Special Instructions.”

3. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Alternate:

External
1. Cleanse external ear canal with mild antiseptic.
2. Swab, scrape, or aspirate specimen from active margin, preferably including fresh secretion from deeper areas.
3. Place a mini-tip rayon swab in a BBL CultureSwab^TM or a regular rayon swab in a Fisherbrand® transport swab with Stuart’s transport media.
4. If a syringe is used, remove needle and send to laboratory with sterile cap replaced on syringe.
5. Label specimen with patient’s full name (first, last, and middle initial), medical record number (if available), date and time of collection, location of patient, and type of specimen (left or right ear).
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  1. Avoid topical ointments or drugs in or on site to be cultured.

2. See “Microbiology” in “Special Instructions.”

3. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.