Fluid or swab

Fluid:
1. Cleanse the area around and on the affected site with iodine and 70% alcohol using a circular motion.
2. Aspirate 1 mL of fluid with a sterile syringe and needle, remove the needle, exclude the air, and cap the syringe.
3. Label the syringe with the patient's full name, date of birth, identification number, date and time of collection, initials of the person collecting the specimen, and the specimen source.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
5. The specimen source is required on the request form for processing.

Swab:
1. Submit a swab specimen from the affected area collected by the physician.
2. Place the specimen in a culture collection and transport tube.
3. Label the tube with the patient's full name, date of birth, identification number, date and time of collection, initials of the person collecting the specimen, and the specimen source.
4. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
5. The specimen source is required on the request form for processing.

87070 - Culture, Ear (EAP 30060510)
87077 - Aerobic identification (if appropriate)
87184 - Susceptibility studies, disk method (if appropriate)
87186 - Susceptibility studies, microdilution or agar dilution (if appropriate)
87205 - Gram stain (EAP 30061200)