Specimen Requirements

Call Logan Health Medical Center Laboratory Microbiology Department at 406-752-1737 to obtain media prior to collection if direct plating is necessary. Media may be inoculated at bedside with exudate or corneal scrapings due to small amount of inoculum available.

Specimen must arrive as soon as possible after collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Swab

Container/Tube: Swab(s)
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions: Collect specimen as follows:
1. Take swab for culture before application of topical anesthetics because topical anesthetics possess antimicrobial activity. Take corneal scraping after application of anesthetics.

2. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.
3. Gently remove makeup and ointment with sterile cotton and saline.
4. Collect specimen by swabbing.
5. Moisten sterile swab with sterile saline.

6. Pass moistened swab 2 times over lower conjunctiva.
7. Avoid eyelid border and lashes. (Culture these separately in a similar fashion, if indicated.)

8. Insert swab into moist sponge in swab container to preserve specimen.

9. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen, and as right or left eye.

Note: Specimen source (right or left eye) is required.

Scraping

Container/Tube: Sterile container(s) with medium
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Scraping should be done by an ophthalmologist.
2. Use local anesthetic and platinum spatula.
3. Rub spatula with scrapings gently over small area on medium.
4. If too dry, use very small amount of sterile water.

5. Label container with patient’s legal name, date and actual time of collection, type of specimen, and as right or left eye.

Note: Specimen source (right or left eye) is required.