EAR CULTURE

Swab, aspirates from middle ear

• Specimen should reach the Microbiology Laboratory within 2 hours of collection.
• If delay in transportation cannot be avoided, please keep specimens at 2 to 8°C.

Culture

Negative:
“No bacterial growth”
“No growth of pathogens”
“Mixed flora”

Positive:
Identification of probable pathogen(s)

Negative: 2 – 4 Days

Positive: 3 – 5 Days*
*Depending on the number and type of organism(s) isolated

Daily

For swab specimens, requests for gram stain and culture cannot be ordered on a single swab.

Refer to General Specimen / Collection Guide