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Eye Fluid Culture - Provincial

Discipline

Microbiology

Overview

Description

Eye fluid culture (vitreous or aqueous humor) is necessary to determine infection within the eye such as endophthalmitis. Culture is necessary to detect the presence of bacteria, yeast or fungus.

Ordering recommendations

  • Vitreous or aqueous humor fluid in a sterile container submitted to the laboratory with minimal delay.
  • If infection with amoeba suspected, please consult with the Medical Microbiologist on-call
RGH/Pasqua
  • Performs culture for bacteria and yeast
RRPL
  • Performs fungal culture
Saskatoon
  • Performs bacteria, yeast and fungal

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

  • Vitreous/Aqueous Fluid

Specimen collection container

  • Sterile container, OR in capped syringe with needle removed OR eye pack.

Collection procedure

  • Collect vitreous/aqueous fluid using sterile technique. Eye Packs are available for ophthalmology to directly inoculate media at site of collection.

Transport and stability

  • Transport at room temperature, as soon as possible. If delay is anticipated, keep specimen at 4°C.

Performance

Methodology

  • Gram stain and culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
  • Fluorescent stain and culture for yeast and filamentous fungi is performed routinely at RRPL/RUH if fungal culture is ordered.  Inoculated media will be forwarded after bacterial culture is performed
  • Bacterial cultures are incubated for 5 - 7 days
  • Positive Gram stains are considered CRITICAL RESULTS and are phoned to submitting location immediately upon detection 24 hours per day

Days/times performed

  • Specimens will be cultured at the nearest microbiology laboratory

Maximum laboratory time

Result reporting

  • Identification and susceptibility results are usually available 24 - 48 hours after an organism is isolated.
  • Reports of no growth are sent at 24 hours and 72 hours, if applicable.

Specimen retention time

  • Specimens retained for 1 month after culturing

Other information

  • Testing for Neisseria gonorrhea requires specimen inoculation to media at the bedside.
  • Patient history
    • Clinical presentation, symptoms, underlying medical conditions (i.e. immunosuppression), current/previous antibiotic history

Last Updated: September 16, 2025