Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 15 minutes of collection.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Conjunctiva

1. Cleanse skin around both eyes with mild antiseptic.

2. Sample both eyes with separate swabs (pre-moistened with sterile saline) by rolling over each conjunctiva.

3. Avoid skin contact with eyelid border or lashes.

4. Smear swabs onto slides for staining.

5. Transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container.

6. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature only.

Note:  1. Swab both eyes even if 1 is not infected. This can serve as a control to compare agents isolated from the infected eye.

2. Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Corneal Scrapings

1. Instill 2 drops of local anesthetic.

2. Cleanse skin around eye with mild antiseptic.

3. Using a sterile spatula, scrape ulcers or lesions.

4. Transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container.

5. Apply remaining material to 2 clean, glass slides for staining.

6. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

7. Maintain sterility and forward promptly at ambient temperature.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.

Fluid or Aspirates

1. Prepare eye for needle aspiration of fluid.

2. After obtaining aspirate, transfer specimen to a screw-capped, sterile container.

3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.

4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly an ambient temperature.

Note:  Specimen source is required on request form for processing.