If a doctor were going to prescribe a culture/sensitiviy test for the
eyeLID, as opposed to just the eye,  what would he or she write on the
test-ordering form?  I am looking for the precise medical term for
doing a culture of the eyelid.

The medical term for the eyelid is "blepharos," which leads to the
combined term "blepharoculture." However, this term is seldom used.
The inner lining of the eyelid is called the "palpebral conjunctiva."
The term "conjunctival culture" is used when a culture is taken from
inside the lid. Here are some online references:

Tips For Conjunctival Culture 

• Use no anesthetic

• Lightly moisten the swab

• Culture the lower conjunctival cul-de-sac

• Press firmly—make an effort to pick up epithelial cells

• Avoid touching the lid

• Transport and process within 24 hours

Review of Ophthalmology
http://www.revophth.com/index.asp?page=1_185.htm

"...culture the conjunctiva by holding down the lower eyelid and
wiping gently across it with a sterile swab; inoculate the plate."

Ball State University
http://www.bsu.edu/web/00cewarnes/Bio_341/Lab_6%20&%207.htm

Search terms used:

"eyelid culture"
"culture of eyelid(s)"
"blepharo(s)"
"conjunctival culture"

I hope this information is useful. If anything is unclear, or if a
link does not function, please request clarification; I'll be glad to
offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

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Request for Answer Clarification by spark72-ga on 21 Jun 2003 20:48 PDT

Well, i did a general google search and found no medical references to
"blepharoculture".  I did a pubmed search and found only one good
match involving chin nodules.   If blepharoculture was really the
correct term for an eyelid culture, there should've been at least 50
references to it from a Google search. Blepharitis refers to
infection/inflammation of the eyelid..... did that come from
"blepharos"?

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Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 22 Jun 2003 08:43 PDT

"Blepharoculture" is an archaic term that was suggested by an
ophthalmologist friend of mine. "Conjunctival culture" is the modern
term for culturing the eyelid.

If you are dissatisfied, you may want to request a refund so that you
will not be charged for my answer. If you opt to repost your question,
perhaps another Google Answers Researcher will be able to help you.

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~pinkfreud