Understanding Your Laboratory Test: A Patient Guide to Testing, Sample Collection, and Results
This test identifies and grows bacteria from an eye sample to diagnose eye infections caused by anaerobic or aerobic bacteria.
{"The test cultures bacteria from an eye sample to identify what type of infection you have","It tests for both aerobic (oxygen-loving) and anaerobic (non-oxygen) bacteria","Results help doctors choose the right antibiotic treatment for your eye infection"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 74816-0
- Short code
- EYECUL
- Synonyms
- Bacteria Eye Anaerobe+Aerobe Cult
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Aerobic and anaerobic culture transport swab system (e.g., Copan ESwab, Amies charcoal medium) or sterile screw-cap container for aspirated fluids/tissues
- Units
- N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 0 years
- Method
- anaerobic-aerobic-culture
- CPT
- 87075
- SNOMED
- 428531000124102
- Specimen volume
- Minimum 0.5 mL for aspirated fluids (aqueous humor, vitreous); swabs should be fully saturated
- Stability
- Room temperature: 2 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 24 hours. Anaerobic specimens should not be refrigerated. Specimens should be processed as soon as possible after collection to optimize organism recovery.
- Hemolysis max
- 500
- Lipemia max
- 1000
- Icterus max
- 500
- TAT
- 48–168 hours
- Order
- routine
This laboratory test is a medical analysis performed on a sample taken from your body, such as blood, urine, or other tissue, that helps your healthcare provider evaluate your overall health, screen for certain diseases, or monitor a condition you may already have.
The Eye Bacterial Culture test is a laboratory test that collects a sample from your eye (such as pus, discharge, or tissue) and places it in a special environment to grow and identify any bacteria present. This test looks for both aerobic bacteria (which need oxygen to grow) and anaerobic bacteria (which can grow without oxygen).
Your provider may order this test to help diagnose the cause of symptoms you are experiencing, confirm or rule out a suspected condition, check how well certain organs in your body are functioning, or follow how well a treatment plan is working over time.
Your doctor may order this test if you have symptoms of an eye infection such as redness, swelling, pain, discharge, or vision changes. The test helps determine if a bacterial infection is causing your symptoms and identifies the specific type of bacteria so the most effective treatment can be prescribed.
The sample is usually collected at a laboratory, hospital, or your provider's office. Depending on the type of test, this may involve drawing a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm, asking you to provide a urine sample, or taking a gentle swab from the affected area.
A healthcare professional will collect a sample from your affected eye using a sterile swab or needle. They may collect discharge, pus, or a small tissue sample from the infected area. The sample is then placed in a sterile container and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Your results are compared with established reference ranges to determine whether they fall within normal limits. Values that are higher or lower than expected may suggest infection, inflammation, organ dysfunction, or another condition that your provider will review together with your medical history and symptoms before discussing any next steps with you.
If bacteria are found and identified, the results will show the specific type of bacteria causing your infection. This information helps your doctor select the most appropriate antibiotic. If no bacteria grow after several days, it may mean your infection is caused by a virus, fungus, or is non-infectious. Your doctor will discuss your specific results with you.
Reference range
No growth of pathogenic bacteria. Normal ocular flora may include coagulase-negative staphylococci, Corynebacterium species, and Propionibacterium species in low quantities.N/A
Patient should not apply topical antibiotics, eye drops, or eye makeup for at least 24 hours prior to specimen collection. Contact lenses should be removed before collection. For conjunctival specimens, avoid touching eyelashes or eyelid margins.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
This test is crucial for diagnosing bacterial eye infections such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), keratitis (corneal infection), endophthalmitis (inner eye infection), or blepharitis (eyelid infection). Identifying the exact bacteria allows for targeted antibiotic therapy, which is more effective than using broad-spectrum antibiotics. This also helps prevent antibiotic resistance and reduces the risk of complications from untreated eye infections.
Frequently asked questions
Does the test hurt?
How long does it take to get results?
Do I need to prepare for the test?
What happens if the test is negative?
Sources
- 1
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- 3
Click any link to access the full source. PubMed Central (PMC) links provide free full-text access.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 16, 2026. · Read our editorial policy