An ear drainage culture is a laboratory test to check for infection-causing substances in a sample of fluid, pus, wax, or blood from the ear.

See also: Ear drainage

The test may be done if you or your child has:

• An ear infection that is not responding to treatment
• An infection of the outer ear (otitis externa)
• An ear infection with a ruptured eardrum and draining fluid

It may also be done as a routine part of myringotomy.

Note: Ear infections are diagnosed based on symptoms rather than using a culture.

A sample of ear drainage is needed. Your health care provider will use a cotton swab to collect the sample from inside the outer ear canal. In some cases, a sample is collected from the middle ear during ear surgery.

The sample is sent to a laboratory and placed on a special dish (culture media).

The lab team checks the dish every day to see if bacteria, fungi, or viruses have grown. Further tests may be done to specifically identify any substances and determine the best treatment.

No preparation is needed for a lab culture.

No pain is associated with using a cotton swab to take a sample of drainage from the outer ear. However, ear pain may be present if the ear is infected.

Ear surgery is performed under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and feel no pain. See: myringotomy.