Specimen Requirements

Preferred Sample Types:

1.  Unformed human stool samples, unpreserved

Undesirable Samples:

Formed stools with no indication of CDAD.  Specimens that do NOT take the shape of the container will be rejected.  Retesting within 7 days is not indicated due to the high sensitivity of the test.  Consult with pathologist on any requests for repeat testing within 7 days.

Additional Information: Stools for culture, ova and parasite or other testing should be submitted into the appropriate preservatives contained in our stool collection kits.  If it is not possible to obtain  collection kits prior to the stool collection, a clean, covered container is acceptable as long as it is refrigerated and transferred to preservative within the time period as follows: 

1.  Culture  specimen must be set up within 2 hours or transferred to a Modified Cary-Blair based transport media.

2.  Ova and Parasite testing requires the specimen be transferred to SAF and PVA vials within 2 hours.

3.  C. difficile testing must be refrigerated within 24 hours of collection.

4.  Giardia and cryptosporidium antigen testing must be transferred to cary-blair or SAF within 48 hours.

REJECT: 

1.  Stools contaminated with urine or Barium.

2.  Stools that have sat out at room temp. for a period greater than that mentioned above.

3.  With the exception of C. dificile testing, in-patient stool cultures should not be performed 3 days after hospitalization.

4.  Stools for parasitology should not be performed after 4 days of hospitalization.

5.  No more than 2 bacteriology specimens and 3 parasitology specimens should be processed on all out-patients without consultation with the lab director.