Laboratory Services
Culture, Stool
Print this pageUpdated Test Information:
| Test Description |
Culture, Stool
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Synonym(s) |
Stool Culture, Diarrhea, Stool Pathogens, Feces Culture, Enteric Pathogen Culture, Shiga-Toxin EIA |
|
| Test ID |
CULTSTL
|
|
| Performing Lab |
Labcorp |
|
| General Information |
Identify bacterial pathogens from stool specimen (including Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli O157, and Shiga-toxin EIA). |
|
| Specimen Type |
Stool |
|
| Specimen Requirements |
Stool culture transport vial is required; diapers are not acceptable. Culture collection swab may be used to collect rectal swabs or a swab of fecal material, then swab should be placed in stool culture transport vial (Para-Pak® C&S orange). |
|
| Minimum Sample Volume |
1 gram |
|
| Additional Processing Details |
Rectal swab must show fecal staining (stool is the preferred specimen type). Shiga toxin immunoassay cannot be performed from rectal swab. |
|
| Stability |
72 hours room temp |
|
| Unacceptable Specimen Conditions |
Unacceptable specimen transport device, frozen specimen, stool mixed with urine, barium, mineral oil, soap, or disinfectant, leaky specimen, improper labeling, prolonged delay in transport (>72 hours refrigerated, >2 hours ambient). |
|
| Methodology |
Culture, Immunoassay for Shiga-toxin |
|
| Estimated TAT |
2-5 days. Positive culture reported as soon as detected. |
|
| Testing Schedule |
Monday-Saturday |
|
| CPT Code(s) |
87045 |
|
| Reference Range |
No bacterial stool pathogens isolated. |
|
| Reflex Conditions |
None |
|
| LOINC Code(s) |
625-4 |
|
| Additional Information |
Organism identification and susceptibility tests are billed separately from the culture. |
