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Culture, Ear

Ear Culture, Otitis externa, Otitis media

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5484

Department

Microbiology

Instructions

• For tympanocentesis fluid specimens, please refer to Culture, Fluid.
• For biopsy specimens, please refer to Culture, Tissue.
• For wound specimens, please refer to Culture, Wound - Deep and Culture, Wound - Superficial.
• The proper collection of aerobic cultures cannot be over-emphasized. Specimens which are improperly collected may yield misleading results.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: An ESwab specimen collected from the external ear canal and placed in liquid Amies transport medium.

NOTE: If a fungal infection is suspected (mold or yeast), Culture, Fungus should be ordered.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen in ESwab transport medium at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F). Transport to the Laboratory within 8 hours of collection.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Swab specimen in ESwab transport medium at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F).

Rejection Criteria

Specimens in non-sterile or leaking containers, or specimens that have been delayed in transit (greater than 8 hours) will be tested, with reporting at the discretion of the Microbiology Laboratory System/Associate Director. 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 4 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Microbiology Laboratory
Taylor, Trenton and Wayne sent to Dearborn Microbiology Laboratory for testing.

Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory
Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Troy sent to Royal Oak Microbiology Laboratory for testing.

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day. 
Preliminary results available within 24 hours.
Final negative results available in 4 days.

Reference Range

No organisms recovered.

Test Methodology

Gram stain, aerobic culture and identification, susceptibility testing (if indicated).

Interpretation

The recovery of microorganisms from an appropriate, properly collected specimen may be indicative of an infectious disease process.

Clinical Utility

This test is used to recover and identify aerobic bacteria that may be involved in human infections.

Reference

Gilligan, P.H and M.C. Jones, 2016, Otitis Cultures, in Leber, A.L., Editor-in-Chief, Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 4^th edition, Section 3.11.5.

CPT Codes

87070 (Aerobic Culture), 87205 (Gram Stain).

Contacts

Last Updated

10/9/2023