Specimen collection to performed by an Opthalmologist:
- Perform cultures before initiating any treatment (e.g. topical antimicrobial agents).
- Align the patient in the slit lamp and instill topical anaesthetic.
- Insert an eye speculum if required.
- Using a sterile needle (23-25 gauge usually) firmly scrape the base and edges of the ulcer. Use a new needle to inoculate each slide and media.
Collect the samples in the following order:
1. Thinly smear onto 2 slides within the circular area of the slide.
2. Inoculate media using small localised strokes, avoid breaking the surface of the solid agars. Horse blood agar plate (HBA), Chocolate agar plate (CH), Fungal slope (BCGB) and Acanthamoeba slope if indicated. NB: Multiple scrapes may be required to permit adequate material for all media
3. Using a dry swab, scrape the base & edges of the ulcer and break into Thioglycollate broth.
4. A separate viral swab may be collected if viral infection is suspected.
Sample labelling
1. Label slides with patient details in pencil.
2. Label plates and slopes on the side containing agar, not the lid.
