Culture, Ear Mnemonic C EAR Includes Gram stain and susceptibility, if generally applicable. Guidelines This culture is for specimens inside the ear canal. Use Culture, Skin Superficial for external ear cultures. Order Culture, Fungus separately. If surgical, order Culture, Exudate. Specimen Collection Requirements Collect Drainage or Aspirate View Swab Collection Guide Handling Collect specimen using a culture collection tube and transport swab or syringe. Submit capped syringe with needle removed or fluid in sterile container. Minimum Volume 1 swab or 0.5 mL fluid Transport Room temperature Rejection Criteria Frozen or dry specimen, leaking or nonsterile containers Stability Ambient: 24 hours Testing Information Performed 7 days/week Reported Preliminary Negative: 1 day; Final Negative: 2-3 days Method Standard Aerobic Bacterial Culture Reference Values Reference Values Normal skin flora Comments Additional charges for identification of organisms (CPT 87077). Susceptibility tests are performed as applicable (CPT 87186, 87184, 87181, 87147). CPT Codes 87070, 87075, 87205 (87077, 87076, 87186, 87184, 87181, 87147 as needed) Last Updated: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 01:40:47 AM Client Services: 503-413-1234