Specimen Requirements

Specimens collected on swabs must arrive to St. Luke's Laboratory within 48 hours of collection.

External

1. Use moistened swab to remove any debris or crust from ear canal.
2. Using a sterile swab, rotate firmly in outer canal. For otitis externa, vigorous swabbing is required, surface swab may miss streptococcal cellulitis.

3. Return swab to transport tube.

4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Internal

Intact Eardrum

Tympanocentesis is reserved for complicated, recurrent, or chronic persistent otitis media.

1. Cleanse external canal with soap solution.

2. Specimen should be collected by a physician trained in syringe aspiration technique.
3. Place specimen in a screw-capped, sterile container.

4. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Ruptured Eardrum
1. Insert auditory speculum in ear canal.

2. Use a flexible-shaft swab to collect fluid specimen from eardrum or beyond.

3. Return swab to transport tube.

4. Label tube with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.