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HelpTest Code CXEYE Culture, Eye (Ocular)
Performing Laboratory
Hunterdon Medical Center Laboratory
Special Instructions
Label with patient first and last name, medical record number or date of birth,date and time of collection and source of specimen.
1. Gram stain is performed if purulent or invasively collected, provided material is sufficient.
2. All specimens collected directly on media must be delivered to the laboratory immediately.
3. Corneal specimens should be accompanied by conjunctival swabs, if possible.
4. Positive results will be called to the ordering physician.
Specimen Required
Conjunctiva:
Container/Tube:
Aerobic Culture: Dual tipped Routine Culture Swab
Collection Instructions:
Specimen to be collected by area of patient care.
Collect specimen before the application of topical anesthetics.
Using the swab, collect material from affected area.
Return swab to culture tube.
Corneal Scrapings:
Call Microbiology X3725 and pick up appropriate media and slides for collection.
Refer to Microbiology Specimen Collection Guidelines for proper inoculation of media.
Collect specimens and inoculate plates and slides immediately.
Label all plates and slides with patient’s first and last name, medical record number or date of birth, date and time of collection and source of specimen.
Specimens collected on media should be delivered to the laboratory immediately.
If possible collect conjunctival swab specimens concurrently.
Vitreous Fluid/Ocular Fluid:
Submit in capped syringe with needle removed, or obtain media from Microbiology and inoculate directly.
Specimen Type
Conjunctiva
Corneal scrapings
Vitreous Fluid
Aqueous Fluid
Specimen Transport Temperature
Swab specimens: Ambient: Deliver within 2 hours.
Specimens collected on media: Ambient: Deliver within 15 minutes.
Specimen Stability Information
Routine culture swabs: Ambient: 24 hours
Specimens inoculated directly on media: must be delivered immediately.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Sunday.
Reference Values
Aerobic cultures: No growth at 3 days
Anaerobic Cultures: No anaerobes isolated.
Method Name
Conventional culture and Biochemical Identification methods; Gram stain is performed.
Positive cultures may be followed by susceptibility at an additional charge.
Anaerobic culture may be performed on invasively collected specimens upon request, providing appropriate media or collection method used.