Invasive eye specimens

Aqueous/Vitreous taps and biopsies, washings from aqueous/vitreous humour, contact lens/fluids. Infections of the inner eye are caused by a variety of organims. The laboratory uses a variety of culture media to recover any aerobic, anaerobic and fungal isolates. It is important to send the respective material e.g. aqueous or vitreous humour aspirate fluid or tissue specimens in a sterile universal container. Microbiology will perform microscopy, isolation, identification and susceptibility of any organism likely to be pathogenic. Turn around time for Gram stain results are available within 4 hours of receipt of sample (Gram stain is not performed on contact lens/fluids). Culture results 5 days (contact lens/fluids 2-3 days).