Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Corneal scrapings and intraocular fluids will be collected by an ophthalmic surgeon. Because of the small amounts of material involved, inoculation of plates and preparation of slides may need to be done at the patients’ side. Laboratories should agree a protocol for the collection of specimens, inoculation of media, and transport to the laboratory.
Specimen container paediatric:
Eye kit containing the following can be obtained from Microbiology: Blood agar, Chocolate agar, Sabouraud agar, Acanthoamaeba agar and slides for Gram stain investigation.
Specimen container adult:
Eye kit containing the following can be obtained from Microbiology: Blood agar, Chocolate agar, Sabouraud agar, Acanthoamaeba agar and slides for Gram stain investigation.
Minimum volume paediatric:
N/A
Minimum volume adult:
N/A
Special requirements:
Send to laboratory as quickly as possible. Inform laboratory that sample has been taken.
Sample stability:
For amoeba only, process within 8 hours.
Transport requirements:
Standard
Add On Test:
N/A
Quality assurance:
External Quality Assurance Scheme: BMS Micro Ltd. (Acanthamoeba).
UK National External Quality Assurance Scheme (UKNEQAS).
Interpretation:
Interpretative comments are added to reports where applicable.
Reference ranges:
N/A
Factors affecting result :
Inoculation of cultures should be immediate, if insufficient culture should be prioritised.
Referenced documents:
Standards of Microbiology Investigations (SMI B 2)
Other info:
Corneal scrape kits provided by Microbiology to eye casulty