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Test Code EARC Culture, Ear, Bacteria

Important Note

For internal ear sites: If eardrum is intact, physician
should
perform collection by tympanocentesis.
Optimal transport time: < 2 hrs

Infectious

Additional Codes

 For internal ear sites: If eardrum is intact, physician
should
perform collection by tympanocentesis.
Optimal transport time: < 2 hrs

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Swab, fluid, or aspirate

Preferred Specimen: 

Other Acceptable specimens: not applicable 

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. Specimens must be received within 24 hours.

Rejection Criteria

Whole blood/unspun samples greater than 6 hours will be
rejected.

Specimens not submitted on ice will be rejected.

Reference Values

Analyte

Age

Sex

Reference Range

Ear culture

 All

Male and female

No Growth

Critical Values

Ear culture isolated with critical pathogens.

Turnaround Time

Gram stain only: within 1 hour of receipt in Microbiology
lab,
if STAT
requested.

 

Routine Turnaround Time: 1-3 days

 

Testing Schedule: 24/7

CPT Codes

87070, 87205

LOINC Codes

30487070, 30687205

Volume

N/A

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

(20 - 25°C)

 24  hours 

Refrigerated

(2 - 10°C)

 48 hours.

Frozen

(-20°C)

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

Specimen Source: Internal
Specimen Collection: If eardrum intact, physician should perform collection by tympanocentesis. Cleanse external canal with mild detergent and collect fluid from beyond eardrum.
Specimen Transport: 24 hr, no refrigeration.


Specimen Source: External
Specimen Collection: Use moistened swab to remove debris or crust from the ear canal. Firmly rotate swab in outer canal.
Specimen Transport: 24 hr, no refrigeration.
 

See Microbiology Specimen Collection:

  • See category “Ear”, Table 1 BACTERIOLOGY, CHLAMYDIA, MYCOLOGY, MYCOBACTERIOLOGY (AFB), VIROLOGY

Test Components

Gram stain

Aerobic culture

Clinical Indications

  • Screening test for various   infections
  • Useful in the diagnosis of disease

Methodology

Conventional culture media.

Synonyms/Search Keywords

Aerobic culture, Ear

Last Reviewed Date

05/18/2022

Additional Information

For internal ear sites: If eardrum is intact, physician
should
perform collection by tympanocentesis.
Optimal transport time: < 2 hrs