Table V-1.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Otitis Media

Etiological Agentsa	Diagnostic Procedures	Optimum Specimens	Transport Issues; Optimal Transport Time
Streptococcus pneumoniae	Gram stain,	Tympanocentesis fluid	Sterile container, RT, immediately
Haemophilus influenzae	Aerobic bacterial culture	Mini-tipped swab of fluid draining from the middle ear cavity in patients with myringotomy tubes or otorrhoea	Swab transport device, RT, 2 h
Moraxella catarrhalis
Streptococcus pyogenes
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Alloiococcus otitidis
Staphylococcus aureus

Abbreviation: RT, room temperature.

^a Viruses are often the etiologic agent but microbiologic studies do not help with treatment decisions.