Swab (Eye)
Private Eye Swab testing in London for £130.99, investigating one eye microbiology marker with clinic-only collection and results in around 2 days.
Turnaround time
2 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Swab (Eye) Test
The Eye Swab test collects a microbiological specimen from the surface of the eye or clinically relevant ocular area, helping identify organisms associated with suspected eye infection.
The test assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker: Swab (Eye).
Eye redness, discharge and irritation are common symptoms and can have several possible causes.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is one possibility, but viral conjunctivitis, allergy, dry-eye disease, blepharitis, corneal disease and other inflammatory conditions can produce overlapping symptoms.
A sterile swab can be collected from conjunctival discharge or another clinically appropriate ocular site.
The laboratory then cultures the specimen for organisms capable of causing infection.
Where a clinically significant bacterium is identified, susceptibility testing can occasionally support antibiotic selection.
The test is particularly useful when symptoms are persistent, severe, recurrent or not responding to initial treatment.
Routine culture has limitations.
Many cases of conjunctivitis are viral and may not be detected by standard bacterial culture.
Dedicated viral PCR is required when a particular viral pathogen needs to be identified.
The eye also requires careful clinical assessment because some conditions that initially resemble conjunctivitis can threaten vision.
Significant pain, marked light sensitivity or visual loss can indicate deeper corneal or intraocular disease and requires urgent ophthalmic assessment.
Contact-lens wear is particularly important because it can increase the risk of serious bacterial keratitis.
The result should therefore be interpreted alongside the clinical appearance of the eye and any relevant ophthalmic findings.
What Does the Swab (Eye) Test Check?
The test cultures a professionally collected ocular specimen for clinically significant microorganisms associated with suspected superficial eye infection. This test measures 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Swab (Eye)
Cultures a specimen from the clinically affected eye surface to identify significant bacterial or fungal organisms associated with ocular infection.
Who May Benefit From the Swab (Eye) Test?
An Eye Swab can be useful where symptoms suggest infection and direct microbiological assessment is clinically appropriate.
People with persistent eye discharge - Purulent or recurrent discharge can prompt bacterial culture.
People with recurrent conjunctivitis - Laboratory testing can help identify repeated bacterial infection.
People whose eye infection has not responded to initial treatment - Culture can provide information about unexpected or resistant organisms.
Contact-lens wearers with suspected infection - Ocular infection requires particular caution because keratitis can progress rapidly.
People with significant crusting around the eyelids - Bacterial involvement can contribute to some cases of blepharitis or conjunctivitis.
People with previous abnormal Eye Swab cultures - Repeat testing may help assess recurrence.
People with immune suppression and persistent ocular infection - Direct microbiology can provide additional information.
People referred for ocular culture by a clinician - Professional specimen collection can target the affected conjunctival or ocular area.
How to Prepare
There is no home or hotel collection option for this swab test.
The specimen is collected in clinic from the appropriate ocular site using the correct microbiology swab and transport medium.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Swab (Eye) Test
Eye infection can affect one or both eyes and symptoms vary according to the cause.
Persistent eye discharge - Bacterial conjunctivitis can cause mucopurulent discharge.
Red or inflamed eyes - Infection is one possible cause of conjunctival redness.
Eyelids stuck together on waking - Dried discharge can occur with bacterial conjunctivitis.
Recurrent eye infection - Culture can help identify organisms involved in repeated episodes.
Ongoing symptoms despite antibiotic drops - Laboratory investigation can help determine whether a bacterial pathogen remains present.
Irritation or burning with discharge - Infection can cause discomfort, although dry-eye and allergic conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Contact-lens use with new infectious symptoms - This requires a lower threshold for clinical eye assessment.
Eye pain, reduced vision, severe light sensitivity or a painful red eye in a contact-lens wearer requires urgent clinical or ophthalmic assessment.
A routine Eye Swab should not delay assessment of possible keratitis, corneal ulceration or other sight-threatening disease.
Routine culture also does not comprehensively test for viral conjunctivitis.
How to Book Your Swab (Eye) Test
The Eye Swab can be booked privately for professional in-clinic microbiological collection.
Choose the Swab (Eye)
Select the individual Eye Swab test online.
Select your collection option
This swab is collected in clinic only; home and hotel visits are not available for this test.
Attend your appointment
A trained healthcare professional collects the specimen from the clinically relevant ocular surface.
Laboratory analysis
Your swab undergoes microbiological analysis for Swab (Eye), with organism identification where appropriate.
Receive your results securely
Your authorised result is delivered securely and can be interpreted alongside the clinical appearance of the eye.
When Will I Receive My Results?
The current live London Blood Tests page lists a turnaround of approximately 2 days after laboratory receipt for Swab (Eye).
The specialist laboratory culture pathway can take up to approximately 2–4 days where further organism growth or identification is required.
The sample undergoes microbiological processing, quality-control procedures and result authorisation.
Further sensitivity testing can occasionally extend reporting.
Understanding Your Results
A negative or no-significant-growth result means no clinically significant organism was recovered under the routine culture conditions used.
This does not exclude viral conjunctivitis, allergy, dry eye or another non-bacterial ocular condition.
A positive result means a bacterial or fungal organism has been recovered from the specimen.
The clinical relevance depends on the organism and the ocular symptoms.
Where a significant bacterial pathogen is identified, antimicrobial susceptibility information may be provided.
The result should not override urgent clinical findings.
A person with substantial pain, photophobia, corneal changes or reduced vision needs ophthalmic assessment even if culture is pending or negative.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides private in-clinic Eye Swab collection for targeted ocular microbiology.
Direct ocular-site sampling - The specimen is collected from the clinically affected eye.
Useful in persistent conjunctivitis - Culture can provide information where symptoms fail to resolve.
Can identify significant bacteria - Laboratory culture can detect organisms associated with ocular infection.
Can support antibiotic selection - Susceptibility testing may be provided where clinically relevant.
Relevant to recurrent infection - Repeat episodes can justify direct microbiological investigation.
Clinic-only collection - Home and hotel visits are not available for this swab test.
Specialist microbiology analysis - Samples undergo laboratory culture and authorisation.
Clear pricing - The Eye Swab test costs £130.99.
Private Swab (Eye) Test in London
London Blood Tests provides private Eye Swab testing for people requiring microbiological investigation of suspected superficial ocular infection.
The test costs £130.99 and assesses 1 specialist microbiology marker.
Collection is in clinic only. Home and hotel visits are not available.
The current live page lists results in approximately 2 days after laboratory receipt.