Expensive

[jschlosser]

Is it normal practice to identify every organism in an eye culture (four organisms) and charge A MIC for each organism. The culture turned out to be 600.00 and was probably viral anyhow?

[Bill]

Many years ago I had discussions with several opthomologists about this exact situation. ALL stated that eye cultures collected by opthomologists or optomotrists (as opposed to MD's or RN's) should have all organisms fully ID'd and susceptibility testing. They stated that the eye is sterile and if collected by an eye specialist, the lab can be assured that it was collected correctly under direct exam by aseptic technique. Samples collected by others are usually swabs run across the bottom of the eyelid and therefore not from a sterile area.