Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 2 hours of collection.

Drainage or aspirated specimens are acceptable for culture.

1. Collect drainage with a swab. When a swab is used, external ear canal flora can contaminate the specimen.
2. When using sterile swab(s), follow instructions on swab packaging. In some instances, only 1 sterile swab is used to collect specimen. In these instances, discard remaining swab.

3. A wire-shafted swab can also be used. Submit wire-shafted swabs in an empty swab transport tube.

4. Label swab tube (not packaging) with patient’s information, date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

5. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.

Note:  Maximum storage of swab specimens is 24 hours refrigerated. Overnight refrigeration of specimen is not recommended since some of the fastidious organisms that can cause these infections may become non-viable (this will be noted in the report).

6. Aspirated material is collected by tympanocentesis. Submit specimen in a capped syringe or a sterile, leakproof container. Maximum storage of aspirated specimen is 2 hours at ambient temperature. If transport is delayed, an aerobic/anaerobic transport tube (A.C.T. I) is supplied and should be used.
Note:  1. To inoculate swab specimen to A.C.T. I tubes, remove cap from tube, and quickly insert swab deep into agar. Break swab shaft evenly with lip of tube. Replace cap and quickly tighten to minimize exposure to air.

2. For aspirated specimens, swab rubber stopper of tube with an appropriate disinfectant such as alcohol. Push needle through rubber stopper and slowly inject material on top of agar in tube. Remove needle and disinfect rubber stopper again.

3. Do not use A.C.T. I tubes if there is evidence of contamination, more than 3 mm of the medium is oxidized (indicated by a pink or lavender color), expiration date has passed, agar is broken, or there are other signs of deterioration.

4. Maximum storage is 24 hours at ambient temperature for specimen in A.C.T. I tube.