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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Clostridium difficile Culture with Reflex to Toxin B, Real Time PCR, Isolate
Test Code92014
CPT Codes
87081
Includes
If Clostridium difficile Culture is Isolated, then Clostridium difficile Toxin B, Qualitative Real-time PCR, Isolate will be performed at an additional charge (CPT code(s): 87493)
Preferred Specimen
5 grams or 5 mL unpreserved stool collected in a sterile screw-cap container
Minimum Volume
2 grams or 2 mL
Instructions
Toxin is heat labile. Freeze as soon as possible. Submit frozen stool in sterile screw-cap container.
Transport Temperature
Frozen
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen -20° C: Not established
Frozen -70° C: 7 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Received room temperature • Received in Cary-Blair transport • Specimen other than liquid or semi-formed stool • Stool in preservative or mixed with urine • Specimen in wrong transport container
Methodology
Conventional Culture
Setup Schedule
Set up: Daily; Report available: 4-7 days
Reference Range
Clostridium difficile Culture | Not isolated |
Clinical Significance
C. difficile causes 50-75% of antibiotic associated colitis and greater than 90% of antibiotic associated pseudomembranous colitis. Pathogenic C. difficile produce two potent toxins, toxin A and toxin B, that cause diarrhea and colitis.