Specimen Requirements

Submit one of the following specimens:

Specimen Type: External
Container/Tube: Swab
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
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: Anaerobic transport device or vial or sterile container
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

1. Cleanse external canal with soap solution.

3. Collect specimen by the syringe aspiration technique.
Additional Information: Throat or nasopharyngeal cultures are not predictive of agents responsible for otitis media.

Specimen Type: Internal, ruptured eardrum
Container/Tube: Swab

Specimen Volume: Entire specimen

Collection Instructions:

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

Additional Information: Throat or nasopharyngeal cultures are not predictive of agents responsible for otitis media.