Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Feces

Container/Tube: SAF preservative vial/PVA preservative vial

Specimen Volume: Fill to black arrow on each vial.

Collection Instructions:

1. Add feces to “fill-to-here” line (black arrow) indicated on each vial.
2. Tighten cap, and shake firmly to insure specimen is adequately mixed. When mixing is complete, solution should appear homogeneous.

Additional Information: Stools for ova and parasite 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 48 hours.Giardia and Cryptosporidium Antigen testing requires the specimen be transferred to the SAF vial 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.  Stools for parasitology should not be performed after 4 days of hospitalization.

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