Testing should not be performed on infants less than 12 months of age unless provider has consulted with Pathology/Pediatric Infectious Disease.
Collect
- Stool in clean, leak-proof plastic containers - Stool in Culture and Sensitivity Media (C&S/Cary-Blair) Formed specimens are not acceptable and will be rejected.
Bristol, 1 - 4: Not acceptable Bristol, 5:Not preferred, but will be tested Bristol, 6 & 7: Acceptable
Collect, Minimum Volume
0.5 mL stool
Pediatric Collection
0.5 mL stool
Specimen Preparation
All stool samples should be refrigerated and tested ASAP.
Ideally, stool should be tested within 24 hrs, but samples may be refrigerated for up to 72 hrs prior to testing.
If samples cannot be tested within 72 hrs, they should be frozen upon receipt in the lab at -20°C.
A single freeze/thaw cycle should not affect results.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Refrigerated: 72 hours, Frozen: 7 days
Unacceptable Conditions
- Fecal specimens preserved in 10% formalin, merthiolate formalin, sodium acetate formalin, polyvinyl alcohol or Total Fix
- Patients less than 12 months old
Remarks
Only one test will be performed on a patient in 7 days Samples which are antigen positive, toxin negative will be reflexed toCDPCR For botulism testing, see BOTCor BOTX
Testing should not be performed on infants less than 12 months of age unless provider has consulted with Pathology/Pediatric Infectious Disease.
Collect
- Stool in clean, leak-proof plastic containers - Stool in Culture and Sensitivity Media (C&S/Cary-Blair) Formed specimens are not acceptable and will be rejected.
Bristol, 1 - 4: Not acceptable Bristol, 5:Not preferred, but will be tested Bristol, 6 & 7: Acceptable
Collect, Minimum Volume
0.5 mL stool
Pediatric Collection
0.5 mL stool
Specimen Preparation
All stool samples should be refrigerated and tested ASAP.
Ideally, stool should be tested within 24 hrs, but samples may be refrigerated for up to 72 hrs prior to testing.
If samples cannot be tested within 72 hrs, they should be frozen upon receipt in the lab at -20°C.
A single freeze/thaw cycle should not affect results.
Storage/Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Stability (from collection to initiation)
Refrigerated: 72 hours, Frozen: 7 days
Unacceptable Conditions
- Fecal specimens preserved in 10% formalin, merthiolate formalin, sodium acetate formalin, polyvinyl alcohol or Total Fix
- Patients less than 12 months old
Remarks
Only one test will be performed on a patient in 7 days Samples which are antigen positive, toxin negative will be reflexed toCDPCR For botulism testing, see BOTCor BOTX
