Tympanocentesis/Surgical Ear Culture-Provincial
Discipline
Microbiology
Overview
Description
- Tympanocentesis involves aspiration of fluid from the middle ear and is usually reserved for complicated infection cases, including, failure of antibiotic therapy, systemic illness or severe cases, when unusual organisms are suspected and in immunocompromised patients where other specimen types are considered inadequate.
Ordering Recommendations
- Specimens may be collected from patients with signs and symptoms of middle ear infection, especially if recurrent or in patients as highlighted above.
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Surgical or Tympanocentesis specimen
Specimen collection container
- Sterile Screw Capped Container or capped syringe with needle removed
Collection procedure
- Collect surgical or tympanocentesis specimen into sterile container.
Required volume
1 Sterile Screw Capped Container
OR
1 capped syringe with needle removed
Transport and stability
Transport at room temperature, as soon as possible. If delay is anticipated, keep specimen at 4°C.
Testing Information
Relevant clinical history
Patient History
- Symptoms, duration of symptoms and history of past/current antimicrobial therapy
Performance
Methodology
- Gram stain and culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and yeast is performed routinely.
Days/times performed
- Specimens will be cultured at the nearest microbiology laboratory.
Maximum laboratory time
Cultures are incubated for 72 hours.
Reports of no growth are sent at 24 hours and 72 hours, if applicable.
Identification and susceptibility results are usually available 24 – 48 hours after an organism is isolated.
Specimen retention time
- Specimens retained for 1 month after culturing.
Last Updated: November 19, 2025