Specimen Collection
Direct inoculation of the culture media and smear preparation at the bedside is essential
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The Microbiology Department will provide appropriate material following a telephone request. The Greenlane Clinical Centre Eye Clinic and Eye ward are automatically provided with collection kits.
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All requests must include information about the suspected causative agent, e.g. amoebae, bacteria or fungi.
Acanthoamoeba culture: if this is required, please inoculate inside the circle on the plate and do not place the patient label on this side.
Turnaround Time:
Results of direct examination are available within 1 hour of specimen receipt.
Culture reports on positives are issued immediately.
Bacteria: Interim negative reports will be issued at 48 hours and a final report is issued at 10 days.
Fungal and amoebic culture: report will be issued at 14 days.
For information about amoebic infection, see:
Amoebic Eye Infections
Contact Information
For further information, contact the Microbiology Department via Lablink or the Clinical Microbiologist:
Lablink contact details
Dr Sally Roberts
, Microbiologist:
ext 22705
Cellphone
021 674 140
Dr Sharmini Muttaiyah
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 615 892
Dr Mary de Almeida
, Microbiologist:
ext 22700
Cellphone
021 170 9117
Dr Matthew Blakiston
, Microbiologist: contact via Lablink