Clostridium Difficile Toxin Test
| Test Name | Clostridium difficile toxin test |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name(s) | C.diff |
| Laboratory Module | Microbiology |
| Ordering Mnemonic | CDT |
| Specimen Type | Feaces |
| Collection Container | Sterile Container |
| Container Information |
|
| Collection Information | Have patient passed unformed stool directly into a clean, dry container. Send a minimum of 2 mL.
|
| Test Schedule | C. difficile test is performed daily 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Positive: the patient has C.difficile. Don not repeat tests to look for cure in C.difficile. The patient's response is the best marker of cure. samples submitted with 14 days from a positive will be rejected. Negative: the patient is very unlikely to have C.difficile, only a single test is required. If negative, then a repeat should not be performed within the next 7 days. Indeterminate- there may be interfering substances in the stool. A single repeat submission will be accepted for testing. If indeterminate again, then the clinician must decide on the likelihood of C.difficile infection and whether to treat. |
| Routine Turnaround Time | Final: 1 hour |
| Stat Turnaround Time | Final: 1 hour |
| Reference Interval | (Information Unavailable) |
| Critical Values | If a C.difficile toxin is performed and a positive sample is detected, this information is made available to the health care provider immediately. |
| Lab Process Notes | All stool samples must be mixed thoroughly, regardless of consistency to ensure that a representative sample is processed during testing. Note: Children may carry C.difficile asymptomatically. Presence of this organism or its toxin may not be diagnostic of infection. |
| Storage and Transport | Specimen should be transported as soon as possible to the laboratory. Specimens are maintained in the refrigerator prior to testing. |
| Test Referred To | In house, BGH laboratory |
