Specimen Requirements

• Specimen Type: External
• Container/Tube (Preferred): Swab
• Specimen Stability: 48 hours
• Collection instructions:

1. Use moistened swab to remove any debris or crust from ear canal.
2. Using a second sterile swab, rotate firmly in outer canal. For otitis externa, vigorous swabbing is required, surface swab may miss streptococcal cellulitis.
3. Return swab to transport tube.

• Specimen Type: Internal, intact eardrum
• Container/Tube (Preferred): Anaerobic transport jar or vial or sterile container
• Specimen stability: 48 hours
• Collection instructions:

1. Cleanse ear canal with soap solution.
2. Collect specimen by the syringe aspiration technique.

• Specimen Type: Internal, ruptured eardrum
• Container/Tube (Preferred): Swab
• Collection instructions:

1. Collect fluid on a flexible-shaft swab via an auditory speculum.