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Test Code LAB4527 CULTURE, STOOL

Important Note

Obtain stool C&S vial from lab prior to collection attempt.

A stool culture should not be performed on patients who have been hospitalized for more than 3 days.

May want to consider new in-house test: Gastrointestinal Panel PCR, Stool LAB7130

Stool Testing Flowchart

Infectious

Additional Codes

Labcorp 008144

Specimen Type

Cary-Blair Stool Container or Para-Pack C&S Container

Specimen Volume

Fill to Red Line

Turnaround Time

3-4 days

Test Schedule

Daily

Sample Stability

Room Temp: 2 days
 

Stool must be placed in the vial within 1 hour of collection. 

Method

Organism Isolation

Culture

EHEC immunochromatographic rapid test

 

Reference Ranges

Negative: No Enteric Pathogens isolated. Stool culture screened for Salmonella, Shigella, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Campylobacter.

 

Screen for enteric pathogens:

Salmonella, Shigella, Enterohemorrhagic Escheria coli (Shiga toxin I & II), Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Campylobacter

 

Synonyms

Feces, Feces Culture, Stool, Stool cx, Stool Culture, diarrhea, stool pathogen, Salmonella, Shigella, Shiga toxin, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, campy, campylobacter, EHEC

CPT Codes

87045, 87046 x 2, 87427 x 2

Test Components

Culture, Stool

EHEC immunochromatographic rapid test

Specimen Processing

Store and transport at room temperature

Collection Instructions

If delay of 1 hour or more is anticipated for the specimen to reach the laboratory, submit a portion of stool in Cary-Blair transport tube or enteric transport media.

Test Limitations

If Vibrio is suspected, please note on request form. Stool culture does not rule out Yersinia.

The patient should be cautioned against the use of antacids, barium, bismuth, antidiarrheal medication, or oily laxatives prior to the collection of the specimen.

Rejection Criteria

Stool that has not been processed or placed in transport media within 1 hour of collection

Stool contaminated with urine

Stool that has been frozen

Clinical Information

Stool received for routine culture are screened for the presence of Salmonella, Shigella, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Aeromonas, and Plesiomonas. Yersinia and Vibrio will be reported if identified in stool culture.

For Yersinia and Vibro it is recommended to order the Gastrointestinal Panel PCR, Stool LAB7130

 

Guidelines for collection have been developed with community physicians as to the number and/or timing of specimens. In general, if a patient is admitted to the hospital without diarrhea and after 3 days develops diarrhea, a stool culture should not be ordered. The probability of an inpatient developing a bacterial infection is unlikely. It is more likely that this patient should be tested for the development of Clostridioides difficile. No more than one stool culture per admission should be ordered. For outpatients, stool specimens for routine culture should be at least 3 days apart. This guideline is per Kootenai Health Infection Prevention.