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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 g 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
P.M. Sets up 7 days a week.
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.
