Stool Norovirus and Rotavirus PCR

STVPC

Stool Culture, Norovirus, Rotavirus

Norovirus, NOROV, Rotavirus, ROTAV

Acceptable Specimen types:

• Liquid or semi-formed stool
• Diaper - "inside-out diaper" or diaper lined with plastic wrap to contain the contents. Pour contents into clean container so contents don't absorb into diaper.
• Rectal Swab - well coated with stool, if possible (Gel swab not acceptable)
• Specimen received in Cary Blair media vial
• NOTE: if stool specimen is inadequate volume to reach up to proper "fill" line of the Cary Blair vial, treat this specimen as a Rectal Swab specimen and do not put into the Cary Blair. Give entire specimen to Technician. Technician will put swab directly into stool and then into the Stool Preparation Buffer tube - skipping the Cary Blair step.

• Instructions for collections are included with every Cary Blair Media (orange lid) collection kit given to Outpatients.
• If hospital or ER patients, stool may be collected in clean container and delivered to lab within 1- 2 hours. If plating cannot be done immediately, place specimen into Cary Blair media for preservation.
• Cary Blair preserves stool for culture or PCR testing for 48 hours if refrigerated at 2-8°C.

                                             

• Instructions for collections are included with every Cary Blair Media (orange lid) collection kit given to Outpatients.
• If hospital or ER patients, stool may be collected in clean container and delivered to lab within 1- 2 hours. If plating cannot be done immediately, place specimen into Cary Blair media for preservation.
• Cary Blair preserves stool for culture or PCR testing for 48 hours if refrigerated at 2-8°C.

Inadequate or inappropriate specimen collection, storage, or transport may yield false-negative results. Due to the importance of specimen quality, training of personnel in the correct manner to perform specimen collection and handling is highly recommended.

• Inpatient specimens: .Deliver to lab within 1-2 hours to preserve sensitivity. Lab will immediately place specimen into Cary-Blair media.
• Outpatient preferred specimen:   Deliver to lab within 1-2 hours to preserve sensitivity. Lab will immediately place specimen into Cary-Blair media.

It is recommended that Cary-Blair preserved specimens be stored refrigerated at 2-8°C until EP testing is completed (for up to 48 hours after collection). This preserves the specimen in cases where addition tests such as Susceptibility Testing can be performed.

24x7

< 12 hours

Norovirus:        Negative
Rotavirus:        Negative