Enteric Pathogen Culture (see Stool Culture)
| Test Name | Stool Culture |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name(s) | (Information Unavailable) |
| Laboratory Module | Microbiology |
| Ordering Mnemonic | STOOL A thorough patient history, including symptoms, time of onset, age, travel history, food consumption and antimicrobial treatment is necessary to determine which pathogens to look for. The Lab routinely screens for Campylobacter, E.coli 0157:H7, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia. Inpatients (in hospital 72 hours or more) will not be processed should be ordered as C. difficile toxin. Only one sample per day is permitted, all others will be rejected unless approval from the microbiology department is arranged.
|
| Specimen Type | Stool |
| Collection Container | Enteric Plus Transport Media (ETM) Para-Pak Enteric Plus |
| Container Information |
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| Collection Information | Avoid the use of mineral oil, bismuth, Milk of Magnesia, antacids, compounds containing Kaolin or barium prior to collection. Avoid contamination with urine. Select areas of stool that appear blood-stained, purulent or watery. Transfer this to enteric transport media (labeled Enteric Plus). Thoroughly mix 5 mL of stool with the 20 mL of fixative (1:4 ratio). |
| Test Schedule | Daily |
| Routine Turnaround Time | Preliminary: 24 hours Final: 72 hours |
| Stat Turnaround Time | Preliminary: 24 hours Final: 72 hours |
| Reference Interval | (Information Unavailable) |
| Critical Values | As growth is detected and identified the information is made available to the health care provider. |
| Lab Process Notes | Specimen must be received within 48hours of collection. (Extremely fastidious organisms such as C. jejuni may exhibit minimal recovery after 48 hours) |
| Storage and Transport | The specimen should remain at room temperature, and transported to the lab where it will remain at room temperature. |
| Test Referred To | On site, BGH laboratory |
