Bacterial Culture and Gram Stain, External Ear




Test Mnemonic

EARCSM

Primary CPT Codes

  • 87070 - QTY (1), Culture, Bacterial, Aerobic
  • 87205 - QTY (1), Smear, Gram Stain

Variable CPT Codes (dependent on findings)

  • 87077 - QTY (1), Identification, Aerobic Isolate
  • 87106 - QTY (1), Identification, Yeast
  • 87153 - QTY (1), Identification, Nucleic Acid Sequencing
  • 87181 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Agar Dilution, per agent
  • 87184 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Disk Method, per plate
  • 87185 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Enzyme Detection, per enzyme
  • 87186 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Multi-antimicrobial
  • 87186 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Multi-antimicrobial Phoenix
  • 87186 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Multi-antimicrobial Sensititre
  • 87186 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Multi-antimicrobial Vitek
  • 87182 - QTY (1), Susceptibility, Carbapenamase Enzyme detection, per isolate

LOINC ®

608-0

Aliases

  • otitis externa
  • Pseudomonas

Performing Laboratory

Cleveland Clinic Laboratories


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
UnspecifiedSkinSwabAmbientAmbient E Swab and Green Top LQ Stuart Soft Aluminum Wire Swab are accepted.

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
Ambient48 hours
Refrigerated48 hours
FrozenUnacceptable

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

7 days

Methodology

Name Description
Culture, Identification 
Gram Stain 

Reference Range

Special Info

For ruptured eardrum, collect fluid on flexible shaft swab via an auditory speculum. Outer ear: Obtain sample by firmly rotating swab in outer canal. For otitis externa, vigorous swabbing is required

Clinical Info

Otitis media can usually be diagnosed and treated without culture. Respiratory viruses, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most common organisms causing acute otitis media. Chronic external otitis is often due to seborrhea. The primary etiology of necrotizing otitis externa infection is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Reflex Tests

The following additional test(s) may be ordered depending on results: