Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Acceptable Specimens:
Aspiration in a sterile container or swab of drainage in transport medium

If anaerobes are suspected, collect specimen using a sterile technique and place into an anaerobic transport device.

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

1. Specimen should be collected by a physician trained in this procedure.

2. For intact (not perforated) ear drum, clean ear canal with soap solution.

3. Collect 0.5 mL of fluid via syringe aspiration technique and place in a screw-capped, sterile container.
4. For ruptured ear drum, collect fluid on 2 flexible-shaft swabs (ie, culture transport swab) via auditory speculum.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Outer Ear
1. Specimen should be collected by a physician trained in this procedure.

2. For intact (not perforated) ear drum, clean ear canal with soap solution.

3. Collect 0.5 mL of fluid via syringe aspiration technique and place in a screw-capped, sterile container.

3. For ruptured ear drum, using a sterile, saline-moistened swab, remove any debris or crust from ear canal.
4. Obtain specimen by firmly rotating 2 flexible-shaft swabs (ie, culture transport swab) in outer canal. 

5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen. 
6. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only. Do not refrigerate.
Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.