Eye

Conjunctival discharge

• Cleanse the area around the eye with mild antiseptic
• Pre-moisten swab with sterile buffered saline
• Pull down the lower eyelid so that the lower conjunctival fornix is exposed
• Swab the fornix without touching the rim of the eyelid with the swab
• Place the swab immediately in a transport medium or, if the specimen is brought to the laboratory immediately, in a sterile tube with 0.5mL of buffered saline (pH 7)
• Smear may be prepared at time of collection, by collecting another swab. Roll swab over 1-2 cm area in the center of the slide

Corneal scrapings (specimen collected by ophthalmologist)

• Cleanse the area around the eye with mild antiseptic
• Using sterile spatula, scrape ulcers or lesions, and inoculate scraping directly onto medium
• Note: Prepare smears last or use separate spatula for smear preparation
• Prepare smears by rubbing material from spatula onto 1-2 cm area in the center of the slide

• Mild antiseptic
• Gloves
• Swabs
• Buffered saline (ph 7)
• Microscopy slides
• Transport medium (if necessary)
• Sterile spatula (corneal scrapings)
• Bacteria agar media (corneal scrapings)