ROUTINE STOOL CULTURE

Please see the link below under additional information for the test change update.
 

Any specimen received with concurrent orders, the stool culture will be cancelled and the GI Panel Film Array performed. In the absence of an order for GI Panel Film Array, routine stool cultures will still be accepted.

LAB304849

Culture screen for Salmonella,Shigella, and Campylobacter. Includes EIA test for Shiga-like toxin.

Fresh stool in sterile leak-proof container.  Outpatients stool submissions must be sent in enteric transport media. 
Outpatients and system referral stool specimens must be sent in enteric transport media.
For UML clients, sample must be sent in enteric transport media (provided by UML).

Outreach specimens must be sent in enteric transport media or testing will be canceled.
 

Enteric transport media

Ambient

Fresh stool: Refrigerated: 24 hours
Enteric transport media: Ambient: 72 hours

Delay in testing. 

Sunday-Saturday

In the evaluation of acute bacterial diarrheas, many physicians order sets of 3 cultures. This practice is neither necessary nor appropriate and may in fact cause misleading results. It is recommended that no more than 2 cultures/patient be submitted over 3 days. Unusual requests due to travel, immunosuppression, previous treatment, animal exposure and age need consultation with microbiology and/or infectious diseases. Diarrhea associated with antibiotic usage requires C. difficile testing via non-culture methodology (see C. diff protocol). Cultures are not routinely performed on patients hospitalized longer than 3 days. If Vibrio is suspected, see VIBC Vibrio Culture Stool.