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Test Code LAB9401 Stool Culture with Shiga-like Toxin

Useful For

Detecting and identifying enteric pathogens

Methodology

Conventional Biochemical Identification Methods/Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Performing Laboratory

Bozeman Health Laboratory Services

Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Specimen Type: Preserved stool (preferred)

Container/Tube: (Cary Blair Medium) Orange top vial containing 5 ml of transport medium

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Collection Instructions:

  1. Collect liquid or loose stool.
  2. Place enough stool in the transport media to reach the "FILL LINE" indicated on vial.  DO NOT overfill the transport or dump transport media out.
  3. Carefully break up the specimen and swirl the contents until thoroughly mixed using the spork attached to the cap.
  4. Label vial with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Specimen Type: Fresh raw stool

Container/Tube: CLEAN VIAL

Acceptable: Sterile container

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Collection Instructions:

  1. Collect liquid or loose stool
  2. Transfer stool to container.
  3. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection.

Specimen Rejection:

1. Stool contaminated with urine or water

2. Stool in other preservatives

3. Stool collected in a diaper

4. Frozen stool

 

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

 

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Clean Vial Refrigerated 2 hours
Cary Blair Preserved Stool

Ambient

Refrigerated

24 hours

3 days

 

Reference Values

Negative for Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shiga toxins, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas and Campylobacter.

Additional Information

  • Three specimens are recommended, collected 24 hours apart.  
  • Specimen is optimal when obtained during acute phase of infection (5-7 days).  
  • Patient should avoid recent antibiotics or x-ray contrast material, antidiarrheal medication, antiacids,bismuth or oil instillation.  
  • Listeria sp. can be isolated from stool, however, the test of choice when this organism is suspected is a blood culture.
  • Identification and susceptibility will be performed, if appropriate, at an additional charge.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

87045-Enteric Pathogens Culture, Stool-with isolation and preliminary examination

87046 x 3-Stool Culture Aerobic Bacteria, each

87077-Ident by MALDI-TOF mass spec (if appropriate)

87077-Bacteria Identification (if appropriate)

87077-Additional Identification Procedure (if appropriate)

87147 x 3-Serologic Agglut Method 1 Ident (if appropriate)

87147 x 4-Serologic Agglut Method 3 Ident (if appropriate)

87427-toxin EIA