Culture of Eye Fluid (i.e. Aqueous, Vitreous taps) / Corneal Scrape Plates / Contact Lenses for the isolation and identification of Bacterial & Fungal Pathogens.
Antimicrobial sensitivity testing is performed as appropriate.
To determine the presence of Bacterial and/or Fungal pathogens which may be causing an infection.
Click here for Acanthamoeba PCR & Culture
Eye Fluid (i.e. Aqueous, Vitreous taps)
Corneal Scrape
Contact Lenses
Click here for Eye Swab Culture
Corneal Scrape Kit – 4x agar plates (Chocolate Agar, Blood Agar, FAA & SABC) & a glass microscope slide (inside plastic slide carrier)
Sterile container, e.g. white top universal pot (see picture)
Contact Len Case
For electronic requesting using EPIC (RDUH ONLY):
For Eye Fluids:
Search for: ‘Body Fluid MC&S‘ or test code ‘LAB269‘
For Corneal Scrapes:
Search for: ‘Corneal scrape MC&S‘ or test code ‘LAB9237‘
For Contact Lenses:
Search for: ‘Medical Device MC&S‘ or test code ‘LAB240‘
Please provide relevant clinical details with the request: this helps the lab process the sample correctly and provide the best result for the patient.
For Hospital use – a stock of corneal scrape kits are kept in the top of the specimen fridge in Pathology reception in the Old Path Lab building.
Corneal scrapes – if requesting Acanthamoeba PCR & Culture, please send scalpel blade with saline in a sterile universal container.
Processed locally in Microbiology at RDUH
48 – 72 Hours (7 days for extended fungal culture)
Specimen Labelling Procedure